Boscawen New Hampshire Author, Lecturer, Activist for Peace and Social Reform: Lucia True Ames Mead (1856-1936)

Posted on 9 January, 2011 by Janice Brown

While researching notables of New Hampshire, I frequently ‘discover’ amazing women who are not often mentioned in popular history books–Lucia is one of these.

I am grateful to the Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, for their permission to post the photo of Lucia True Ames Mead on my blog.

She was born in Boscawen N.H., the same town as my paternal grandmother.  Her desire for peace, and her dissatisfaction with how history is taught to children, struck a deep chord in my own heart.  Being a pacifist for my entire life, it was a happy surprise when I discovered an ancestral branch what followed Quaker traditions.  In researching her family, I also discovered that Lucia is my 6th cousin 3x removed through her Kilburn line.

 

——–About Lucia True (Ames) Mead——–

Lucia True (Ames) Mead was born on 5 May 1856 in Boscawen, New Hampshire, daughter of Nathan P. and Elvira (Coffin) Ames. She married on  19 September 1898 to Edwin Doak Mead, son of Bradley and Sarah (Stone) Mead.  He was an author, publisher and peace activist. She died on 1 November 1936.

Lucia devoted her life to the international peace movement, social reform, women’s suffrage, and racial injustice. One of her important contributions to education at that time (and unfortunately long forgotten) was her efforts to change how history is taught to young students.  Rather than being focused on the glorification of war, she promoted that history education should include a broader, and more peaceful view.  She wrote “What Young People Ought to Know about War and Peace” in 1916.

She conducted classes in Nineteenth Century Thought in Boston, MA, and lectured on economic and social questions and international arbitration. She was a delegate to several peace conferences; national secretary Woman’s Peace Party (which she helped found); member Twentieth Century Club; author, “Great Thoughts for Little Thinkers,” “Memoirs of a Millionaire,” “To Whom Much is Given,” “Primer of the Peace Movement,” Patriotism and the New Internationalism,” “Swords and Ploughshares,” and other books.

She was President of Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association (1903-1909), and supported the Women’s Municipal League, the Women’s Educational and Industrial Union (of Boston, MA), the Consumer’s League, the NAACP, and the American Civil Liberties Union.

A fervid pacifist she was vice president of the National Council for the Prevention of War, a director of the American Peace Society, and secretary of the American Committee of the League for Permanent Peace.

For additional biographical information see “Notable American Women 1907-1950” Cambridge MA 1971.

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.A M E S     G E N E A L O G Y.
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Robert Ames/Eames, born possibly Boxford or Bristol, England b about 1639-40, d. 22 July 1693. He married abt 1660 in MA to Rebecca Blake, dau of George & Dorothy Blake of Gloucester MA  She was b. 1641 in Gloucester MA. He was one of the early settlers of Boxford MA.  In the witchcraft excitement of 1692 Mrs. Rebecca Eames was accused, tried and condemned to death (for bewitching Timothy Swan), but after being imprisoned 7 months in Salem jail she was released and lived some 20 years afterward, dying 8 May 1721 in Boxford at the age of more than 80 years. Robert died during his wife’s imprisonment. The family were in those times poor. They lived in Bradford MA near the Andover MA border so some records are found in that town
—————–
Children of Robert & Rebecca (Blake) Ames:
1. Hannah Ames, b 18 Dec 1661 m abt 1678 Ephraim Foster, son of Abraham & Lydia (Burbank) Foster.
2. +Daniel Ames, b 7 Apr 1663 Andover MA
3. Robert Ames, b. 1666-7; m. Bethiah Gatchell of Seekonk on 20 April —-; lived in Boxford and had children.
4. John Ames, b 11 Oct 1670; m. Priscilla Kimball of Bradford and had 7 children, lived in Boxford MA.
5. Dorothy Ames, b. 20 Dec 1674; m. Samuel Swan of Haverhill
6. Jacob Ames, b. 20 July 1677
7. Joseph Ames, b. 9 Oct 1681, m. Jemimah — and d. 27 Dec 1753 at the age of 73 years.  Two of his sons, Jacob and Jonathan settled in Boxford MA.
8. Nathaniel/Nathan Ames, b. 19 Nov 1685; m. bef 1710 Mary Spofford Kimball. He died 11 Jan 1765 at Boxford MA. She d. 17 July 1765. He had at least one child, Jeremiah.

Daniel Ames, son of Robert & Rebecca (Blake) Ames/Eames/etal was b. 7 Apr 1663 in Andover, Essex Co MA and d. about 1695 in Andover MA.  He married 28 Apr 1683 in Andover, Essex MA to Lydia Wheeler, dau of David & Sarah (Wise) Wheeler.  She was b. 7 May 1662 in Newbury, Essex Co MA prob Newbury MA. He married 2nd) abt 1693 Mary Case, dau of Richard & Elizabeth (Purchas) Case.  She was b abt 1680 and d. 10 Sep 1757 in Simsbury MA.  The family settled in Boxford MA. One source stated “In the beginning of the winter of 1693-94 he left his wife and six small children in destitution. She applied to the selectmen for help, and John Peabody took the family to his home, and supplied them with the necessaries of life during the winter. We know no more of him.”
——————-
Children of Daniel & Lydia (Wheeler) Ames:
1. Lydia Ames (1683-1706)
2. Rebecca Ames, twin (1683/4-?)
3. Simon Eames (1686-?)
4. Solomon Ames (1686-?)
5. +Daniel Ames, b. 5 March 1688 in Boxford, Essex Co. MA
6. David Ames (1690-?)
7. Jethro Ames (1692-1725)
8. Hannah Ames (1693-?)
Child of Daniel & Mary (Case) Ames
9. Kezia Ames, b. abt Sep 1695; died unknown.

Daniel Ames, son of Daniel & Lydia (Wheeler) Ames, was b. 5 March 1688 in Boxford, Essex Co MA and d. 12 Jan 1754 in Holliston, Middlesex Co. MA.  He married in 1706 in Boxford MA to Mary Pease, dau of Samuel & Elizabeth Pease.  She was born about 1698 and died 1721 in Massachusetts. He married 2nd) 12 July 1722 in Bridgewater, Plymouth Co. MA to Mary Reynolds. She was b. in 1695 in Boxford, Essex Co. MA and d. in Exeter NH.
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Children of Daniel & Mary (Pease) Ames:
1. Lydia Ames, was b. 24 Feb 1710 in Boxford MA and d. 15 Sep 1764 in Rutland, Worcester Co MA
2. Jacob Ames, b. 5 March 1711 in Exeter, Rockingham Co NH and d. 1806 in New Market NH
3. Mary Ames (1710-1749)
4. Simon Ames (1721-1783)
Children of Daniel & Mary (Reynolds) Ames:
5. +Samuel Ames, b. 13 Feb 1723 in Exeter, Rockingham Co. NH
6. Nathaniel Ames, b. 1727 in Exeter NH and d. 28 Aug 1782 in Newmarket NH.

Samuel Ames, son of Daniel & Mary (Reynolds) Ames, was b. 13 Feb 1723 in Exeter, Rockingham Co. NH and d. 16 Jan 1803 in Canterbury, Merrimack Co. NH.  He m. 1743 in Canterbury NH to Hannah Dolloff, dau of Samuel & Esther (Beard) Dolloff.  She was b. 18 Jan 128 in Exeter, Rockingham Co. NH and d. 16 Jan 1803 in Canterbury, Merrimack Co. NH.
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Children of Samuel & Hannah (Dolloff) Ames:
1. +Samuel Ames, b. 12 May 1745 New Market, NH
2. Sarah Ames, b 25 March 1747 in Canterbury, Merrimack Co NH and d. 25 July 1827 in New Market, Rockingham Co. NH
3. David Ames, b. 27 May 1749 in Exeter, Rockingham Co. NH and d. 22 Sep 1812 in Canterbury, Merrimack Co. NH
4. Hannah Ames, b. 23 June 1754 in Canterbury, Merrimack Co. NH and d. 19 Dec 1817 in Wheelock VT.

Samuel Ames, son of Samuel & Hannah (Dollof) Ames, was b. 12 May 1745 in New Market, Rockingham Co. NH and d. 1 Sep 1825 in Boscawen, Merrimack Co. NH.  He married in Boscawen NH to Jane Gerrish, dau of Stephen & Joanna (Hale) Gerrish.  She was b. 20 Apr 1745 in Boscawen NH and d. 30 March 1814 in Boscawen NH.
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Children of Samuel & Jane (Gerrish) Ames:
1. +Joseph Ames, b. 31 May 1771 in Boscawen NH
2. Hannah Ames, was b 14 jan 1776 and d. 18 Nov 1834 in Boscawen NH; she m. 7 Feb 1796 in Boscawen NH to Stephen Gerrish, son of Henry & Martha (Clough) Gerrish.  He was b. 16 Apr 1770 and d. 11 Nov 1815 in Boscawen NH. They had children: Sarah A. Gerrish (1796-1849), Jane Gerrish (1798-1844), Martha Gerrish (1800-1868), Sam Gerrish (1803-1845), Hannah C. Gerrish (1806-1893), Sewall Gerish (1809-1879), Harriet Gerrish (1812-1874), and Henry Gerrish (1814-1814).
3. Sarah Ames, b. 15 Nov 1780 and d. 25 Feb 1842 in Boscawen NH.
4. Polly Ames, b. 1783, d. 7 Dec 1843, probably Boscawen NH

Joseph Ames, son of Samuel & Jane (Gerrish) Ames, was b. 31 May 1771 in Boscawen, Merrimack Co. NH and d. 15 June 1851 in Boscawen, Merrimack Co. NH. Before 1804 he married his cousin, Hannah Ames, dau of David & Phebe (Hoyt) Ames.  She was b. 11 Aug 1775 in Canterbury, Merrimack Co. NH and d. 18 June 1827.  They resided on High street in Boscawen, where he kept a tavern; a man highly respected; was elected selectman in 1812-1814; and represented the town in the legislature of 1826.
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Children of Joseph & Hannah (Ames) Ames:
1. Myra Ames, b. 4 Jan 1804 in Boscawen, Merrimack Co. NH, d. 17 June 1869 West Creek, Lake Co. Indiana; m. 2 Juen 1829 in Boscawen NH to Thomas Little, son of Jesse & Martha (Gerrish) Little.  He was b. 2 Jan 1802 and d. 19 Aug 1877 in West Creek, Lake Co. Indiana.  Children: Joseph Ames Little (1830-1892), Sara Higley Little (1833-1874), and Lucy Jane Little (1837-?)
2. Joseph Ames, was b. 29 June 1806 and d. 19 Sep 1826.
3. Lucy Ames, b. 13 Sep 1808 and d. 30 Nov 1840.
4. David Ames, b 20 Dec 1810 and d. 26 Apr 1885 in Elkhart, Elkart Co. Indiana. In 1880 he was living with his brother Samuel, a single man, carpenter by trade.
5. Samuel Ames, b. 14 July 1813, prob. died in West Creek, Lake Co., Indiana, as was living there in 1880 with wife and brother.  He married Emily J. Hubbard.
6. +Col. Nathan Plummer Ames, b. 6 June 1816 in Boscawen NH [see more]
7. Stephen Gerrish Ames, b. 16 June 1816 and d. 1 Oct 1826.
8. Phebe Jane Ames, b. 22 Dec 1819 and d. 6 Aug 1836.

Colonel Nathan Plummer Ames, son of Joseph & Hannah (Ames) Ames, was born 6 June 1816 in Boscawen NH and d. 2 August 1880 in Boston, Middlesex Co. MA.  He married 1st) 18 March 1841 at the Corser Hill Church in Webster, Merrimack Co., NH to Elvira Coffin, dau of Thomas & Hannah (Kilburn) Coffin.  She b. 8 Aug 1819, and d. Jan 1861 at West Creek Indiana. They resided on High street in Boscawen, where he kept a tavern; a man highly respected; was elected selectman in 1812-1814; and represented the town in the legislature of 1826. They remained on the homestead inherited from his father unfil 2 Jan 1861 when he with his family went to West Creek, Indiana where Elvira died.   On 31 March 1863 he married 2nd) in Geneva IL to Emily Knight Brown.  She died 16 Sep 1869 in Chicago, Cook Co., IL. After she died he returned with his family to Boston. He 2 Aug 1880 in Boston MA. He is buried in the Water Street Cemetery, Boscawen NH. He served during the Civil War as a Lieut. Colonel in the 21st NH Regiment, under Col. Frederick W. Coffin. [THIS Nathan P. Ames should NOT be confused with the Nathan P. Ames who founded a weapons factory in Massachusetts during the Civil War].
———-
Children of Nathan P. & Elvira (Coffin) Ames:
1. Livonia Coffin Ames b 18 Apr 1843 Boscawen, Merrimack Co. NH, d. 1938 in Queens NY; m. 8 Sep 1865 to George Whitefield Ware. He was b. in 1834 in Boston, MA.  They had four children: William Bradford Ware (1870), Mary Coffin Ware (1872-1947), Richard Ames Ware (1874-1875) and Clara Winnifred Ware (1877)
2. Charles Henry Ames, b 5 Feb 1847, married Henrietta Burton Hunt and resided in Newton MA; had four children, Margaret Ames (1888-1888), Charles Burton Ames (1892-1942), Helen Hunt Ames (1894-1980) and Lawrence Coffin Ames (1897-1981); worked for a publishing company.
3. +Lucia True Ames, 1856-1936 [SEE THIS ARTICLE]
4. Clara Preston Ames 1859; in 1915 single living at 39 Newbury St., Boston MA

.MAJOR SOURCES.
1. One Thousand New Hampshire Notables, p 421, by Frances Matilda Abbott, 1919
2. The history of Boxford, Essex Co. MA by Sidney Perley, 1880
3. Various newspaper clippings, and her own published material

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The Sea Serpent

Posted on 8 January, 2011 by Janice Brown

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New Hampshire’s Deadly Thunder-Boomers

Posted on 7 January, 2011 by Janice Brown

No one seems to be certain when the term “thunder boomer” was first used.

Cassell’s dictionary of slang (Jonathon Green) says it happened sometime in the 1960s.  My parents house sat at the top of a hill in New Hampshire, and every thunder storm was potent.  But when a ‘thunder boomer’ passed through, and my gram started flicking holy water on the lintels, you got the distinct feeling that the storm was meaningful. My personal experiences pale in comparison with some earlier tempests in New Hampshire’s history.

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1765. Captain Thomas Colburn of Hudson NH was killed by lightning 20 August 1765. His widow Mary married Major Samuel Moore after his death.

1802. Stephen Rowell, youngest son and child of David and Mary (Brown) Rowell was born in Croydon New Hampshire 27 June 1802.   His mother was killed by lightning while he was an infant asleep in her arms. She was only thirty-six.  Stephen lived to the age of seventy-five years.

1820. Major Joseph Bellows, b. 3 Nov 1770 in Lunenburg MA. Raised in Walpole NH, he moved to Rockingham Vermont, where in 1820 he received a very severe electric shock during a thunder storm and never fully recovered therefrom. In that storm his seven barns were entirely destroyed by lightning, together with other outbuildings, and the entire crop of hay and grain which had just been harvested. Incidentally, this same Joseph Bellows’ second wife was Mary Adams, a second cousin of President John Adams.

June 26, 1828–the windows of the Meeting-house in Newmarket, broken in and the wife of Mr. Daniel Gerrish, formerly of this town injured.  A house in Rye, occuped by a Mr. Varrell struck, and his wife considerably injured.  A Miss Clark, of Barnstead was killed by lightning on Friday afternoon, June 4.

July 16, 1831, during a severe thunder storm on Sunday, the lightning entered the house occupied by Mr. Charles Hart of Sutton, by way of the chimney, while five of his children were sitting and standing around the fire, and instantly killed one of them, Joseph, aged 6 years, and slightly injured the others. Mrs. Hart was at the time in an adjoining room, and was rendered senseless for a short time by the effects of the lightning, while the sole of the shoe upon one of her feet was partly detached. July 14, 1835. During the shower in the afternoon of Sunday last, 5th inst., the house of Solomon King, in the westerly part of Sutton, was struck by lightning and Mr. King and his wife were instantly killed. The circumstances attending this melancholy casualty, as near as we can learn are the following: –the lightning passed down the chimney of the house and entered a room in which were Mrs. King, her son and daughter and two neighbors, who had stopped for shelter from the rain. Mr. King had just left the room and gone into the entry, for the purpose, it was supposed, of shutting the outside door.
The electrical fluid in its descent divided into two branches, one of which passing through the entry, struck down Mr. King in its progress. The neighbors who were in the room, seeing him falling, sprang to his assistance, but he had sunk to the floor before they reached him. The fluid went out through the door by the well into a hog pen, throwing considerable rubbing into the well, and killing a sow and four out of eight pigs in the pen. The other branch of the fluid passed into the cupboards, demolishing the contents and in its course struck Mrs. King and her son while sitting in their chairs. The latter seeing his mother’s cap on fire, endeavored to rise to go towards her, but found himself unable to move. The other persons on coming back into the room, did not at first notice her situation, but soon discovered that life had fled, although she retained her position unchanged. The son recovered from the shock in a short time. There were only slight marks of violence on the bodies of the deceased. Mr. King was sixty-three years of age, his wife a few years younger. They were both respected by their neighbors, and their disastrous fate is deeply lamented.

September 1, 1838. Lightning. The tavern stable of Mr. John Farnum in Peterborough, was struck by lightning on Friday afternoon but did little damage.–A gentleman named Mears, of Boston, with his lady had just driven under the shed to avoid the shower, and had not left the carriage more than two minutes before the explosion, by which his horse was killed.

July 31, 1841.  The lightning struck the Swamscot House, in Exeter, on Friday fortnight, throwing down one chimney, and setting the roof on fire, which was extinguished before any damage was done. The bricks fells upon a little boy, aged five years, named Barney, fracturing his skull in a shocking manner. The wound was dressed but it was supposed that he could not live, although sensible on Saturday morning.

August 1, 1871. Struck by Lightning — Amos Manser, a brakeman on the Concord Railroad, was struck by lightning last night, near Little field’s Cross, on the Portsmouth Road, while coming up on the night train. He was on the platform of the car and had just turned to enter the car after letting out the brakes, when he was struck by lightning and prostrated, falling into the door of the car. When taken to his home, his right leg was useless and he was suffering great distress from the shock, but this morning we understand that he is better and has partially recovered the use of the limb, and it is thought he may be out in a few days.

June 29, 1876.  The thunder showers of Tuesday afternoon were widely extended and severe.  At Candia two cows and a valuable Ayrshire bull, belonging to Jeremiah Lane, were killed in a pasture by lightning. While Mr. lane, with the assistance of some of his neighbors, was endeavoring to resuscitate the animals, he fell down and instantly expired. He came from Hampton Falls to Candia about 20 years ago. He was 76 years of age, and leaves a widow and four children.

June 1876. At Manchester the lightning struck four houses– one on High Street, owned by John G. Moore; one on Concord street, corner of Hall, owned by William Carr; one in Hallsville [south east Manchester] owned by Charles E. Hodgdon; and another in Amoskeag village, owned by Archie Campbell, who also lost a valuable horse killed in the stall. The thumb of Mr. Huntington, station agent at Newmarket, was taken off by a discharge of electricity, while at his telegraph key Tuesday evening. Miss Haseltine, the operator at Exeter depot, received a heavy shock, producing deafness in one ear.  The report was like a rifle shot, and paper and plastering were scattered about.
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We’d like to think that the incidences of lightning are rare these days, however that simply is not true.  In 2010 there were 29 fatalities in 19 states (Alabama and Georgia with three each, New Hampshire had none). In many years deaths from lightning strike has outpaced that from tornadoes and other disasters.

Traditionally Florida has more than twice the number of lightning deaths of any other state. The rest of the top ten states, in order, are Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, and Colorado.Fewest casualties are in Alaska (none), Hawaii, the District of Columbia, northwest states, Puerto Rico, and small eastern states. Today New Hampshire ranks 16th in the nation for casualties from lightning strikes.  July is reputedly the deadliest month.

—Additional Reading—

The Body Electric, story of Gail Rondeau & family, struck by lightning.

NOAA: Lightning–The Underrated Killer.

NOAA: Lightning Safety Myths and Truths.

SEE “New Hampshire: Peculiar Freaks of Nature”

Posted in History, Oddities, Accidents and Crazy Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Photograph: Lucia True Ames Mead (1856-1898)

Posted on 3 January, 2011 by Janice Brown

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Rindge New Hampshire Teacher, Historian, Genealogist, Editor, Legislator, NH Secretary of State: Ezra Scollay Stearns, A.M. (1838-1915)

Posted on 2 January, 2011 by Janice Brown

Anyone performing genealogy research extensively in New Hampshire and Massachusetts is bound to run into a reference, or a book edited or written by this prolific researcher of history and family genealogy.

Ezra Scollay Stearns was born in Rindge, New Hampshire 1 September 1838, the fifth child and second son of Samuel & Mary F. (Moore) Stearns.  He died unmarried at Fitchburg, MA 9 March 1915.  He came from fairly humble beginnings, attended the local schools, then was self taught.  Eventually he attended the prestigious Chester Institute in Chester, N.J., a preparatory collegiate school where many students continued on to medical and legal careers. Upon graduation he spent a short time there in a teaching capacity. He soon returned to New England, and became the editor and manager of the “Chronicle” newspaper at Fitchburg, MA.

His career in public service began at the age of 26 when he represented Rindge NH in the legislature.  From that time forward he served the town in the NH legislature many times, also being elected and appointed to Rindge township committees, and served for many years as moderator.  In 1891 he was appointed Secretary of State of New Hampshire, serving until 1899.  In the same year he was responsible for obtaining a gift of “papers, records, and maps of the Masonian Proprietors” from Mr. Robert Cutts Pierce, along with provincial papers that were found in the custody of Rockingham County, instead of being with the state archives. All of these were carefully compiled and published in State volumes.

—Some of Ezra Stearn’s publications—
. author, History of the Town of Rindge, New Hampshire, 1875
. author, History of Ashburnham, Massachusetts, 1887
. author, The Fitch Genealogy. A record of six generations of the descendants of Deacon Zachary Fitch of Reading MA, 1902
. editor of History of Littleton NH, 1905
. author, History of Plymouth, New Hampshire, 1906
. editor, Genealogical and family history of the state of New Hampshire: a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the foundation of a nation, 1908
. author, Early generations of the founders of old Dunstable, 1911
. advisor to several other town histories and genealogies
. contributor to the “Register” (NEHGS), his last note in 1913

Dartmouth College recognized Mr. Stearns’ ability as a historian and genealogist by conferring on him in 1887 the honorary degree of Master of Arts.

“He read genealogy for pleasure, as most of us read the latest issue of a favorite magazine,” one of his biographers wrote about him. “The secret of his wonderful ability in this work lay in the fact that he knew where to look for information on almost any early New England family…”   In addition to his love of history, genealogy, and public service, he loved horses and roses

During his lifetime, his memberships included: American Antiquarian Society, New England Historic-Genealogical Society (Vice President 1898), New Hampshire Historical Society, corresponding member Minnesota State Historical Society, member of the Fitchburg Historical Society,   Officer of the Society of Colonial Wars (1897 Registrar), and Sons of the American Revolution (#7636 as great-grandson of Abraham Knowlton, private Mass. Militia).

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.A N C E S T O R S of EZRA SCOLLAY STEARNS.
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Isaac Stearns, the immigrant ancestor, embarked at Yarmouth, England in the ship “Arabella,” 12 April 1630 and arrived on the Massachusetts coast in company with Governor Winthrop, Sir Richard Saltonstall and Edward Garfield, ancestor of President Garfield. He came from Nayland, England and was accompanied by his wife Mary (Barker, dau of John Barker) and two daughters Mary and Ann.  Mr. Stearns settled at Watertown MA and was among the first freemen established there in 1631. he was selectman several years and died 19 June 1671, being survived nearly six years by his widow, who passed away 2 Apr 1677.
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Children of Isaac & Mary (Barker) Stearns:
1. Mary Stearns, b. England
2. Ann Stearns, b. England
3. John Stearns, possibly b. England abt 1630, d. 5 March 1668/69; m1 Sarah Mixer; m2) Mary Lathrop
4. Isaac stearns
5. Sarah Stearns
6. +Samuel Stearns, b 24 Apr 1638 Watertown MA [see below]
7. Elizabeth Stearns
8. Abigail Stearns

Corporal Samuel Stearns, sixth child and third son of Isaac and Mary (Borker) Stearns, was born 24 Apr 1638 Watertown MA, and died 3 August 1683. Resided Watertown MA. His homestead was later owned by his son John, then his grandson Josiah, and then his great-grandson Phineas Stearns, then to heirs of Mr. Abijah White his great-great-grandson.  His inventory 9 Oct 1683 was four hundred and eighty-one pounds, four shillings.  He married 1 Feb 1663 Hannah Manning, eldest daughter of William and Dorothy Manning of Cambridge MA and sister to Samuel Manning who married Elizabeth Stearns.  She was b. 21 June 1642 and d. 26 Feb 1724.  They had ten children.
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Children of Samuel & Hannah (Manning) Stearns:
1. Samuel Stearns
2. Hannah Stearns
3. +Nathaniel Stearns, b. 13 December 1668 Watertown MA [see below]
4. Sarah Stearns
5. Samuel Stearns
6. Isaac Stearns
7. John Stearns
8. Mary Stearns
9. Abigail Stearns
10. Joseph Stearns

Nathaniel Stearns, third child and second son of Samuel and Hannah (Manning) Stearns, was born 13 Dec 1668, and died 24 August 1716. In the division of his father’s estate he received the farm which has been the residence of his grandfather, Isaac Stearns. he was a man of substance and business capacity, and was selectman of Watertown MA in 1716. He married 1st) 1694 to Elizabeth Dix, dau of John and Elizabeth (Barnard) Dix.  She b. 4 Dec 1761 and d. 16 June 1712.  He married 2d) 29 Oct 1713 to Sarah Nevinson, born 22 July 1672.  After his death his widow married 24 Apr 1718 to Samuel Livermore as his third wife.  Nathaniel and Elizabeth were the parents of twelve children.
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Children of Nathaniel & Elizabeth (Dix) Stearns:
1. Nathaniel Stearns, died young
2. Nathaniel Stearns II
3. Elizabeth Stearns
4. Hannah Stearns
5. +Daniel Stearns, b. 1 March 1701 Watertown MA [see below]
6. Lydia Stearns
7. Isaac Stearns
8. David Stearns
9. Ebenezer Stearns
10. Mercy Stearns
11. Deborah Stearns, twin
12. Phoebe Stearns, twin

Daniel Stearns, fifth child and third son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Dix) Stearns, was b. 1 March 1701 in Watertown MA and d. in 1747. He was a cordwainer, and probably lived on the homestead of the first Isaac Stearns, near the Cambridge line.  He married 1) 1722  to Anna Stearns, by whom he had one child Anna.  He married 2nd) 1722 Mercy Grant, twelfth child of Joseph and Mary (Grafton) Grant.  She was born 20 Sep 1702.  They had nine children.  She married 2nd (as a widow) 8 Nov 1753 to William Godding, born 1703.
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Child of Daniel & Anna (Stearns) Stearns:
1. Anna Stearns, b 1722 Watertown MA; m. 22 May 1755 Watertown MA to Stephan Calf
Children of Daniel & Mercy (Grant) Stearns:
2. Elizabeth Stearns, b. 22 Feb 1724/25 Watertown MA; m. 1746 James Budge
3. Stephen Stearns, b. 21 Sep 1726 Watertown MA; m1) Mary Boardman; m2) Ruth —
4. Isaiah Stearns, b. 22 January 1728, Watertown MA
5. Mercy Stearns, b. bef 5 Aug 1733 (baptismal date); m1) Joseph Frothingham; m2) Benjamin Piper
6. Daniel Stearns, b. bef 5 Aug 1733; d. abt 1756 Crown Point MA
7. Ruth Stearns, b. bef 9 Dec 1733 Watertown MA
8. Nathaniel Stearns, b. 1735 Watertown MA; d. 1774 Medfield MA
9. Sarah Stearns, b. abt 1739; m. William Godding
10. Mary stearns, b abt 1743, died same year.

Isaiah Stearns, third child and second son of Daniel and Mercy (Grant) Stearns, was born 22 January 1728 in Watertown MA and d. 11 March 1768.  He married 1750 to Elizabeth —–.  He and his wife were admitted to the Precinct Church, Cambrdige MA 16 Sep 1750.  His estate, one hundred and thirty-nine pounds was administered by his widow.  She married 2nd) 7 Dec 1775 to Edward Fillebrown, who died 16 June 1793.  Isaiah and Elizabeth Stearns had 9 children.
—————–
Children of Isaiah & Elizabeth (?) Stearns:
1. Benjamin Stearns
2. Isaiah Stearns, b. July 1752, died young
3. Peter Stearns, b. Apr 1754, died young
4. Isaiah Stearns 2d, b bef 1759
5. Peter Stearns, b. bef 1759
6. +Daniel Stearns, b. 17 Dec 1760 in Arlington MA; m. Elizabeth Knowlton [see below]
7. Joshua Stearns, b. May 1763
8. Isaac Stearns, b March 1765
9. Henry Stearns, b. Aug 1768

Daniel Stearns, sixth son and child of Isaiah and Elizabeth Stearns, was born 17 Dec 1760 in Arlington MA and was baptized 23 December 1760. He was a private in the Revolutionary war, and carried through the remainder of his life, an injured wrist, the result of a sword cut received in the service. He served in Colonel Nixon ‘s regiment from 1777 until the close of the Revolutionary War.  He entered on the US pension role 8 August 1818 on account of service in the Massachusetts Continental Line, pension being $96 per annum, beginning 10 April 1818. He died (as shown on the pension records) 19 June 1824 in Brattleboro, Windham Co. VT and the whole amount of his pension was $498.66.  He lived some years in Boston MA, removed in 1795 to Dummerston VT and in 1809 to Brattleboro VT where his wife died.  He married 7 Sep 1783 to Elizabeth Knowlton, dau of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Parks) Knowlton of Cambridge MA.  She was born 17 March 1764 in Sudbury MA, d. 6 Aug 1820.  They had 12 children.
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Children of Daniel & Elizabeth (Knowlton) Stearns:
1. Isaac Stearns
2. Sally Stearns
3. Abigail Stearns
4. Daniel Stearns
5. Lydia Stearns
6. Betsey Stearns
7. Lucy Stearns
8. Charles Stearns
9. Charlotte Stearns
10. +Samuel Stearns, b. 27 Aug 1802; m. Mary F. Moore [see below]
11. Selinda Stearns
12. Harriet Stearns

Samuel Stearns, son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Knowlton) Stearns, and of the seventh generation of the descendants of Isaac and Mary Stearns, was b. 27 Aug 1802.  He married 4 March 1830 Mary Fitch Moore, dau of William and Mary (Fitch) Moore of Sharon NH.  She was b. 20 April 1807.  The same month of their marriage they moved to the farm in Rindge NH. She died 28 Aug 1849 and he married 2) 26 Sept 1850 to Almira Hall, dau of John and Betsey (Bennett) Hall of Ashburnham. He was selectman of Rindge in 1841-44, 1847-48, 1850-1851. He represented the town in the Legistature 1850 and 1851 and was frequently chose to other positions in municipal affairs. Unusually free from any selfish or uncharitable thought, he possessed an affectionate heart, and maintained through life an even and unclouded temper. He d. 6 April 1871.
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1860 US Census > New Hampshire > Cheshire > Rindge > 24
Samuel Stearns 57 M Farmer VT
ALmira Stearns 56 F Mass
George Stearns 17 M Salesman NH
Mary S. Stearns 27 F Teacher NH
Ezra S. Stearns 21 M school teacher NH
Samuel H. Stearns 19 M
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1870 US Census > New Hampshire > Cheshire > Rindge > 27
Converse Oscar P 26 M M  clerk Army
Converse, Cornelia S 21 F W keeping House Louisiana
Converse, Ralph Dent 1 M W California
Stearns Ezra S. 32 M W rep in legislature NH
Roice Clara 15 F W domestic servant NH
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1880 US Census > New Hampshire > Cheshire > Rindge > District 62 > 6
Wellington, Joel M W  48 Manufacturer NH
Wellington, Hattie E. W F 43 wife NH
Wellington, Herbert D. W M 23 son works in saw mill NH
Wellington, Arthur J. W M 20 son at school
Stearns, Ezra S. W M 41 servant clerk in box shop [b abt 1839]
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1900 US Census > New Hampshire > Cheshire > Rindge > District 39 > 13
Rand, Charles A. Head W M Apr 1849 51 married 14 yrs NH NH NH
Rand, Clara E. wife W F Dec 1851 48 married 14 yrs NH NH NH
Stearns, Ezra S. boarder W M Sept 1838 61 single NH VT NH author
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1910 US census > Massachusetts > Worcester > Fitchburg Ward 5 > District 1741 > 10
Stearns, Ezra S. Head M W 71 single NH VT NH Historian, genealogical
Wellington, Herbert D, boarder M W 54 m1x 30 yrs NH NH NH
Wellington, Harriet A. boarder F W 48 m1x 30 yrs 3 ch 1 living NH NH NH
Wellington, Bertha E. boarder F W 24 single NH NH NH
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O B I T U A R Y
Portsmouth Herald newspaper> 1915 > March > 9 > 4
FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE PASSES AWAY AT HOME IN FITCHBURG MASS
Fitchburg Mass. March 9 — The Hon. Ezra S. Stearns, historian, genealogist, and secretary of state for New Hampshire for 12 years, died at his home here today, aged 76 years, after a prolonged illness following a general breakdown.
Mr. Stearns was born in Rindge, NH in 1839. He represented that town in the state legislature five times prior to being elected on the state ticket.  In politics he was an old line Republican.
He wrote extensively on New Hampshire municipal histories, many of them in narrative form. He was editor in chief of a genealogical History of the State of New Hampshire, published in five volumes in 1908. Mr. Stearns was a president of the Fitchburg Historical Society, vice president of the New England Historical Society and a member of several other similar societies and organizations.
He came to Fitchburg about ten years ago. He continued to take an active interest in municipal affairs until the close of his life, and was a member of the local school board when he died.
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Children of Samuel & Mary F. (Moore) Stearns:
1. Mary Elizabeth Stearns, b. 26 June 1831; d. 24 Aug 1832
2. Mary Elizabeth Stearns II, b. 18 Aug 1832; m 29 Dec 1864 James Van Derveer, son of Peter and Ann (Boylan) Van Derveer, of Somerset County, NJ. He was formerly a merchant in Chester NJ where he still resides. For several years he was an assessor of Internal Revenue, and sheriff of Morris County 1870-1873.  They had at least one child: (1) Julia Louise Van Derveer, b. 6 Feb 1866
3. Samuel Augustus Stearns, b 14 Oct 1834; d. 4 Sep 1837.
4. Almira Stearns, b. 18 Sep 1836; d. 14 Sep 1837
5. +Ezra Scollay Stearns, b 1 Sep 1838; resided in Rindge NH, unmarried [SEE BIO ABOVE]
6. Samuel Henry Stearns, b. 27 July 1840 in Lynn MA; he married 22 June 1867 in Watertown MA to Carrie M. Glines, daughter of Nathaniel & Mary Glines. Samuel served three years in the War of the Rebellion; was clerk in the Treasury Department, Washington, two years; and later resided in Colorado. In 1870 living in Watertown MA with wife Carrie M. (b 1859 NH) and son Edward F. (b June 1868 MA).  In 1900 Samuel’s son Edward F. was living in Columbia, Tolland Co CT, a farmer, with wife Grace M (b Dec 1876 ME), sons Edward S. (B Feb 1897 MA), Alfred C. (b Aug 1899 CT), and his brother Samuel Grover Stearns (b Apr 1885 Watertown MA, m. 24 June 1909 in Watertown MA to Bertha Alice Foster).
7. George Stearns, b. 16 Aug 1843; Enlisted in the 9th NH Vols, died of disease at West Philadelphia Hospital 24 December 1862, and was buried at Rindge NH.
—————–(end of genealogy)————————-

.ADDITIONAL READING.
–Biography of Hon. Ezra Scollay Stearns, A.M. – NEHGS “Register”
– NH Division of Historical Resources, Ezra S. Stearns, by NH State Curator
-STEARNS, Ezra Scollay, Hon., Access Genealogy, from “Merrimack and Sullivan Counties, New Hampshire”

.OTHER S O U R C E S.
1. Photograph: “Genealogical and family history of the state of New Hampshire,” Vol 1, by Lewis publishing company, Chicago, 1908
2. Merrimack and Sullivan Counties, New Hampshire: Biographical Review, Vol 22
3. History of the Town of Rindge, NH, by Ezra S. Stearns, Press of G.H. Ellis, 1875, page 706
4. The New England historical and genealogical register, Volume 69, by Henry Fitz-Gilbert Waters, 1915
5. “The Great Migration Begins, Record 5, NEHGS Register, “Isaac Stearns”

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