Month: August 2021

By Muriel Bristol | August 29, 2021

In the thirty-first (June 1877) report, the NH Superintendent of Instruction provided some statistics regarding Milton.

Milton’s town school committee members were identified as being J.P. Bickford (1844-1910) of Milton, Freeman H. Lowd (1853-1933) of Milton Mills, and Ambrose H. Wentworth (1832-1913) of West Milton.

Milton had 11 school districts and 13 schools in town, 2 of which were graded schools. 1 of the district schools had an average of 12 scholars of less; and none had an average of 6 scholars or less. The average run of district school classes was 14.0 weeks. (The Strafford County average was 19.8 weeks).

Milton had 12 schoolhouses, 3 were unfit for use, none were built during the year. They all had blackboards, but none had maps or globes. The estimated cash value of its school buildings, furniture and sites was $12,000; and the estimated cash value of its apparatus was $100.

Milton’s selectmen reported 152 male and 165 female children between 5 and 15 years. Its school committee reported that they had 159 male and 175 female students enrolled. Of these, 14 were aged under six years, 299 were aged between 6 and 16 years, and 21 were aged over 16 years. The average daily attendance was 264 students. There were 26 students pursuing higher branches, and there were 10 students aged between 5 and 15 years that were not attending any school.

There were 5 male teachers, making an average of $60.00 per month, and 10 female teachers, making an average of $25.00 per month. Of these, 3 were teaching for the first time, and 5 had been teachers for more than one term. (One might infer that the remaining 5 had been teachers already for a single prior term). None of them had been to Normal school. Of 344 Strafford County teachers, only 12 (3.5%) had been to Normal school).

The school committee had available to it $3,551.22; of which $1,008.00 came from the town tax for support of schools, $2,009.38 came from district school taxes, $145.34 came from the library fund, $142.50 came from local funds and the dog tax, $0.00 came from the railroad tax, and $246.00 came from contributions. It spent $3,543.43 (leaving $7.79), including $1,453.51 for new buildings, $319.87 for permanent repairs, $169.05 for miscellaneous expenses, and $1,619.00 for teacher salaries. A marginal table note indicated that the remaining amount, $42 in the case of Milton, went for school committee salaries, i.e., $14 for each of three committee members.

Milton expended an average of $5.14 per pupil; the Strafford County average was $7.20 per pupil.

The school district with the largest sum on hand had $324.87, and that with the smallest had $34.37; the school district with the longest term had run 30 weeks, and that with the shortest term had run for 8 weeks; the school district with the largest number of students had 78 students, and that with the smallest number had 11 students. The school assessment rate was $0.003 [per thousand]. Elsewhere in the same report, the Milton’s longest term was said to have been 36 weeks and its shortest term to have been 16 weeks.

Under the heading Private Schools of a Higher Grade, Milton had its Classical Institute, which was situated at Milton Three Ponds. The value of its building, apparatus and grounds was $1,500. It had a 36-week school year, which began in September. It had 1 male teachers and no female teachers; and it had 37 male and 32 female students. Of these, 65 of them were NH residents, 12 were pursuing higher branches, and 2 were studying ancient languages. (This entry was marked as having been based on a return of the previous year).

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Previous in sequence: Milton in NH Education Report, 1876; next in sequence: Milton in NH Education Report, 1878

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References:

NH Superintendent of Public Instruction. (1877). Annual Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, June Session, 1877. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=ayMlAQAAIAAJ

By Muriel Bristol | August 22, 2021

John S. Edgerly, c1842-185?

John Staples Edgerly was born in Wolfeboro, NH, October 29, 1814, son of Jonathan and Nancy (Hanson) Edgerly. His family relocated to Wakefield, NH, soon after.

John S. Edgerly headed a Brookfield, NH, household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male, aged 20-29 years [himself], one female aged 30-39 years, and one male aged 10-14 years. Two members of his household were engaged in agriculture. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of William G. Leavitt and John Dow.

Wakefield, NH, town officials licensed John S. Edgerly to keep an inn there, in the late 1830s or early 1840s.

John S. Edgerly married in Tuftonboro, NH, March 17, 1841, Harriet Lyford, both of Brookfield, NH. Rev. James Dow performed the ceremony. She was born in Brookfield, NH, August 18, 1810, daughter of Robert and Mary (Lyford) Lyford.

John S. Edgerly kept a Milton hotel at Milton Three-Ponds as early as 1842. It stood in close proximity, if not right next door, to the home of Dr. Stephen Drew. Daughter Helen A. Edgerly was born in Milton, June 29, 1842.

The US Postal Department appointed John S. Edgerly as Milton postmaster, October 26, 1846 (during the presidency of Democrat James K. Polk). James M. Twombly and others replaced him in that position, between January 18, 1850 and May 1, 1854 (during the presidencies of Whigs Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore). John S. Edgerly was again appointed postmaster, between May 2, 1854 and September 14, 1855 (during the presidency of Democrat Franklin Pierce). One might reasonably infer from this sequence of appointments, and the political affiliations of those holding office when the appointments were made, that Edgerly was a Democrat.

Constituent petitions came in to the NH legislature from various districts seeking “a law to remedy those defects in the existing laws regulating the sale of spirituous liquors which enable wealthy and influential persons through the unfaithfulness or inefficiency of prosecuting officers to escape their penalties” (NH Senate, 1847). NH Representative Thomas W. Mordough (1810-1858) of Wakefield, NH, presented to the NH House such a petition from John S. Edgerly and others, June 16, 1847. (Thomas W. Mordough built the Wakefield Town House in 1838).

Mr. Mordough presented the petition of John S. Edgerly and others praying for an alteration of said laws.

John S. Edgerly, an innkeeper, aged thirty-six years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His immediate family included Harriett Edgerly, aged thirty-eight years (b. NH), and Helen Edgerly, aged eight years (b. NH). He had real-estate, i.e., the hotel, valued at $2,000. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of John M. Hanson, a carpenter, aged twenty-nine years (b. ME), and Stephen Drew, a physician, aged fifty-eight years (b. NH). (Blacksmith Hazen Duntley appeared just after Drew).

William A. Jones, a hostler, aged forty years (b. NH), resided in the hotel in that enumeration. He presumably kept the livery stable. There were seven guests on that particular day, although they likely stayed longer than just that day. They were mostly shoemakers: Samuel Emerson, a shoemaker, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), John L. Wing, a shoemaker, aged twenty-seven years (b. ME), Albert Gilman, a shoemaker, aged nineteen years (b. ME), Richard H. Paine, a teamster, aged thirty-two years (b. ME), [his wife,] Sarah A. [(Edgerly)] Paine, aged thirty years (b. NH), Charles Horney, a shoe cutter, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), and Jesse Knox, a shoemaker, aged sixteen years (b. NH) .

At some time between September 1855 and June 1860, John S. Edgerly left Milton for Saco, ME. (William H. Huntress had taken over Edgerly’s Milton House hotel by 1860).

Daughter Helen A. Edgerly married (1st) in Saco, ME, October 14, 1859, Parker R. Libby. John S. Edgerly was keeping the Mechanics’ House hotel in Saco, ME, by 1860-61.

The term “mechanic” does not have exactly the same meaning as it does today. It refers to a skilled worker, making his living in one of the trades, especially one involving the use of a machine. In 1840, 84.8% of Milton’s workers were engaged in agricultural pursuits, i.e., farming; 12.2% of them were engaged in manufacture and the trades, including “mechanics;” 1.6% were engaged in commerce, such as shop-keeping, running a hotel, etc.; and 1.4% were engaged in the learned professions, such as physician, lawyer, engineer, etc.

Jacob D. Barry, foundry, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), headed a Saco, ME, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Eunice L. [(Edgecomb)] Barry, wf [wife], aged fifty-three years (b. ME), Phebe M. Barry, dressmaker, aged eighteen years (b. NH), Charles H. Barry, aged seven years (b. ME), Winfield S. Howe, a sawyer, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), Daniel Sanborn, foundry, aged thirty years (b. NH), John S. Edgerly, hotel keeper, aged forty-five years (b. NH), Harriet Edgerly, wf [wife], aged forty-seven years (b. NH), Parker R. Libby, junr. barber, aged twenty-seven years (b. ME), Hellen A. [(Edgerly)] Libby, wf [wife], aged seventeen years (b. NH), Maria Nason, servant, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), Stephen T. Whitney, cigar maker, aged forty-five years (b. ME), Wm Duran, junr. harness maker, aged thirty years (b. ME), George T. Blake, junr. painter, aged twenty-five years (b. ME), Monroe Boynton, junr. cigar maker, aged twenty-one years (b. ME), Eliakim Richards, nothing, aged thirty-eight years (b. ME), and Charles J. Richards, nothing, aged sixteen years (b. ME). John S. Edgerly had personal estate valued at $700 and Stephen T. Whitney had real estate valued at $700.

John S. Edgerly appeared in the Maine business directory of 1862, as proprietor of the Mechanics’ House hotel, on Stor. street, in Saco, ME, in 1862 (Willis, 1862).

 John S. Edgerly died in Biddeford, ME, May 7, 1863.

Daughter Helen A. (Edgerly) Libby married (2nd) December 25, 1875, William W. Friend, both of Boston, MA. She was aged thirty-three years, and he was a teamster, aged twenty-eight years. Rev. L.L. Briggs performed the ceremony.

William W. Friend, clerk in store, aged thirty-four years (b. ME), headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Hellen A. Friend, keeping house, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH), his step-children, Gertrude Libby, in commercial agency, aged nineteen years (b. ME), and Ernest Libby, in commission house, aged fifteen years (b. ME), his mother-in-law, Harriet [(Lyford)] Edgerly, aged sixty-nine years (b. NH), and his boarders, Laura E. [(Lewis)] Aldrich, aged twenty-four years (b. MA), George W. Aldrich, a police officer, aged thirty-three years (b. NH), William Maxwell, a salesman, aged twenty-four years (b. ME),  Emma Carr, a servant, aged twenty years (b. England), Leroy Ford, in market, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH), Annie Rennolds, a servant, aged fifteen years (b. MA), Albert Long, provision store, aged seventy-eight years (b. ME), George Hartshorn, a R.R. conductor, aged thirty-one years (b. MA), Julia W. [(Merrill)] Hartshorn, aged twenty-eight years (b. MA), and Willie B. Hartshorn, aged three years (b. MA). They resided at 611 Shawmut avenue.

Harriet (Lyman) Edgerly, widow of John S. Edgerly, died of paralysis in Somerville, MA, August 1, 1892, aged eighty-one [fifty-one] years, eleven months, and ten days.

William H. Huntress, 185?-1870

William H. “Howard” Huntress was born in Milton, January 17, 1822, a son of William and Lydia A. (Hatch) Huntress. His mother died in Milton, December 19, 1830; and his father remarried there, July 1, 1832, Dorcas Dore.

William H. Huntress, left town for some years in the 1840s. He was a shoemaker, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH), residing in the Natick, MA, household of his elder brother, Thomas H. Huntress, also a shoemaker, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. Younger brother Hezekiah R. Huntress, also a shoemaker, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), resided in the neighboring household of brother-in-law, Darwin Morse, a farmer, aged thirty-eight years (b. MA).

William H. Huntress married, circa 1852-53, Sarah C. Tuttle. She was born in Barrington, NH, August 1, 1832, daughter of John and Esther C. (Moulton) Tuttle. They settled in Milton, where their first two children were born in 1854 and 1859.

William H. Huntress may have owned his Milton hotel as early as September 1855. (He appears to have employed managers to run it for him in some years).

In the April 1858 trespass case of Palmer versus Tuttle, William H. Huntress was mentioned as a western abutter to the trespassed property.

In a plea of trespass, for that the defendants, on the third day of April, A.D. 1858, at said Milton, with force and arms broke and entered the plaintiff’s close, situate in Milton, in said county, and bounded easterly partly by land of John Foss and partly by land of James C. Roberts, southerly by land of Stephen Downs westerly by land now occupied by William H. Huntress and James F. Place, and northerly by the road leading by the houses of William W. Ricker and James B. Downs; and cut down and carried away ten hemlock trees, twenty five pine trees, fifty beech trees, one hundred birch trees, one hundred oak trees, and two hundred maple trees, property of the plaintiff, of the value of two hundred dollars, and converted the same to their own use; and cut down and carried away thirty cords of the plaintiff’s wood, of the value of hundred dollars, and converted the same to their own use, and with their oxen and horses trod up and injured the plaintiff’s soil, against the peace and to the damage of the said plaintiff (as he says) in the sum of three hundred dollars (NH Supreme Court, 1860).

William H. Huntress, a shoemaker, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Sarah C. Huntress, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH), Charles A. Huntress, aged six years (b. NH), and John W. Huntress, aged one year (b. NH).

Huntress’ household appeared next to that of his brother-in-law, Darwin Morse, a farmer, aged forty-seven years (b. NH). (His father, stepmother, sister Phebe A. Morse, and nephew resided in the Morse household). They lived near School House No. 12 on what is now Silver Street, approaching its intersection with what is now Winding Road.

Joseph Jenness (1823-1892) lived in the hotel in 1860, which he apparently ran on Huntress’s behalf.

Joseph Jenness, a landlord (“Milton Hotel”), aged thirty-six years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Reliance C. Jenness, aged thirty-one years (b. NH). He had no real estate (and Huntress would be taxed for the licenses). It stood in the Milton downtown, in close proximity, and likely right next door, to the home of Dr. Stephen Drew (another marginal note: “Practicing Physician in Milton 40 years”).

C. Crosby, a hired man, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), resided there, with Emeline Crosby, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), Lydia M. Crosby, aged thirty-one years (b. NH), and Charles G. Crosby, aged seven years (b. NH).

Nine men were listed as “boarders”: B.F. Rankin, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), Charles Neal, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), David Wentworth, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), Charles Peckham, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH), Charles Nudd, Esq., aged twenty-seven years (b. NH), D. Palmer, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), J.C. Robinson, aged thirty-two years, C.C. Smith (b. NH), aged forty years, and James Miller, aged twenty-six years (b. NH).

There were three female guests: Mrs. C. Lane, a teacher of music, aged thirty-one years (b. NH), [sister-in-law] Pamelia C. Weatherell, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH), and S.C. Goodrich, a dressmaker, aged twenty-two years (b. NH).

Also staying in the hotel were three male guests: John R. Palmer, postmaster, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), Dr. Jackson, a physician, aged forty-two years (b. NH), and George Hattan, an “Indian Doctor,” aged fifty-five years (b. NH).

The US Class II military draft list of June 1863 included both William H. Huntress, a hotel keeper, aged thirty-seven years, and Joseph Jenness, a stabler, aged thirty-nine years.

The Federal government assessed Huntress for his 8th-class hotel, liquor license, and livery stable in the US Excise Tax of May 1864.

The Federal government again assessed Huntress for his hotel, liquor license, and livery stable in the US Excise Tax of May 1866. He appeared as proprietor of the “Milton” hotel in 1868 and 1869-70.

William H. Huntress, a saloon keeper, aged forty-three years (b. NH), headed a two-family Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Sarah C. Huntress, keeping house, aged thirty-four years (b. NH), Charles A. Huntress, a clerk in saloon, aged sixteen years (b. NH), and John W. Huntress, aged eleven years (b. NH). Huntress had real estate valued at $1,600 and personal estate valued at $1,377.

Robert Brown, works in shoe factory, aged forty years (b. NH), headed the other household in the two-family residence. His household included Sarah A. [(Runnells)] Brown, keeping house, aged forty-four years (b. NH), Everitt O. Brown, works in shoe factory, aged fourteen years (b. NH), and Elmer E. Brown, at school, aged nine years (b. NH).

William H. Huntress appeared in the Milton business directories of 1871, and 1873, as proprietor of a livery stable.

William H. Huntress died of dropsy in Milton, January 16, 1873, aged fifty years.

Sarah C. Huntress, keeping house, aged forty-five years (b. NH), headed a Dover, NH, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. Her household included her son, John W. Huntress, a shoe cutter, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), her daughter-in-law, Lura B. [(Perkins)] Huntress, at home, aged eighteen years (b. NH), and her nephew, Alvah H. Place, a drug clerk, aged eighteen years (b. NH). They lived at or near Garrison Hill.

Sarah C. (Tuttle) Huntress died in Dover, NH, July 25, 1880.

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Continued in Milton’s Franklin House Hotel, 1870-76

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References:

NH Senate. (1847). Journal of the Senate of New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=TC4TAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA229

NH Supreme Court. (1860). Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Judicial Court of New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=EJg0AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA487

Willis, William. (1862). A Business Directory of the Subscribers to the New Map of Maine. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=mKm9lz1RH_0C&pg=PA167

By Muriel Bristol | August 20, 2021

Martin Van Buren Cook was born in Milton, November 16, 1838, son of Joseph and Rebecca (Ricker) Cook.

Martin V.B. Cook was obviously a namesake for the eighth U.S. President, Martin Van Buren, who held that office between 1837 and 1841. Cook’s father, Joseph Cook, was presumably an admirer and likely a Democrat. (Naming people after presidents and other political figures was much more common in the nineteenth century than it is currently). Van Buren was President Andrew Jackson’s hand-picked successor. The inflationary banking Panic of 1837 cast a shadow over his presidency and he was not reelected.

M.V.B. Cook’s mother, Rebecca (Ricker) Cook, died in 1843. His father, Joseph Cook, married (2nd) in Milton, December 28, 1843, Lydia Blaisdell, both of Milton. Elder Jacob Davis performed the ceremony. She was born in Lebanon, ME, circa 1807, daughter of Enoch Blaisdell.

Joseph Cook, a farmer, aged fifty-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Lydia Cook, aged fifty-three years (b. NH [SIC]), M.A. Cook, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), M.V.B. Cook, a farmer, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), and Joseph Kenney, a farm laborer, aged twenty-one years (b. NH). Joseph Cook had real estate valued at $6,000 and personal estate valued at $3,000. Their household was enumerated between those of Henry Varney, a farmer, aged thirty years (b. NH) and Stephen Twombly, a farmer, aged fifty-seven years (b. NH).

M.V.B. Cook appeared in the Milton business directory of 1869-70, as a Milton justice-of-the-peace. (Joseph Cook appeared also as a justice-of-the-peace).

The Milton School Superintendents of 1869 were James Doldt, M.V.B. Cook, and James W. Applebee. (Rev. James Doldt (1809-1886) was a Congregational minister; and James W. Applebee (1844-1931) was a Milton teacher).

Joseph Cook, a farmer, aged sixty-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Lydia Cook, keeping house, aged sixty-three years (b. ME), Mary A Cook, a teacher, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), Martin V.B. Cook, a farm laborer, aged thirty years (b. NH). Joseph Cook had real estate valued at $5,000 and personal estate valued at $1,765. Martin V.B. Cook had real estate valued at $800 and personal estate valued at $300. Their household was enumerated between those of James H. Varney, a farmer, aged forty years (b. NH) and Stephen Twombly, a farmer, aged sixty-six years (b. NH).

Martin V.B. Cook married in Wakefield, NH, December 27, 1870, Lizzie S. “Sarah” Sanborn, he of Milton and she of Acton, ME. He was a farmer, aged thirty-two years, and she was aged thirty-two years. Rev. Nathaniel Barker performed the ceremony. She was born in Acton, ME, September 11, 1838, daughter of Luther and Abigail (Berry) Sanborn.

Daughter Nellie A. Cook was born in Milton, May 31, 1872.

M.V.B. Cook appeared in the Milton business directories of 1873, 1874, and 1880, as a Milton justice-of-the-peace. (Joseph Cook appeared also as a justice-of-the-peace in those years and 1875, 1876, and 1880).

Daughter Argie Cook and son Archie Cook, twins, were stillborn in Milton, March 30, 1874.

The Milton School Superintendents of 1875 were G.W. Olney, M.V.B. Cook, and J.F. Joy. (George W. Olney (1840-1894) was a woolen mill superintendent; and Rev. Joseph F. Joy (1838-1912) was a Free-Will Baptist minister).

Martin V.B. Cook replied to an 1876 NH state education question, with a description of the new Milton Mills school building. (See Milton in NH Education Report, 1876).

The Milton School Superintendents of 1876 were M.V.B. Cook, J.N. Lowell, Freeman H. Lowd. (Rev. John N. Lowell (1846-1903) was a Congregational minister; and Freeman H. Lowd (1853-1933) was a clerk and bookkeeper (his wife was a daughter of Ira Miller)).

Daughter Bertha E. Clerk was born in Milton, in 1877. Daughter Nellie A. Cook died of consumption of the blood in Milton, July 24, 1878, aged six years.

The Milton Selectmen of 1878-79 were C.C. Hayes, Asa A. Fox, and M.V.B. Cook. (Charles C. Hayes (1822-1893) was a farmer and setter of water wheels; Asa A. Fox (1837-1913) was a Milton Mills carpenter (and a son of Asa Fox)).

Joseph Cook, a farmer, aged seventy-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Lydia Cook, keeping house, aged seventy-three years (b. ME), his son, Martin V.B. Cook, a farmer (b. NH), aged forty-one years, his daughter-in-law, Sarah E. Cook, keeping house, aged forty-one years (b. ME), and his granddaughter, Bertha Cook, aged three years (b. NH). Their household was enumerated between those of James H. Varney, a farmer, aged fifty years (b. NH), and Deborah Pike, keeping house, aged seventy-nine years (b. NH).

M.V.B. Cook appeared in the Milton business directories of 1881, 1882, 1884, 1887, and 1889, as a Milton justice-of-the-peace.

The Milton Board of Education of 1887 was John Simes, Luther Hayes, and Martin V.B. Cook. (John U. Simes (1836-1927) was a Milton Mills merchant; Hon. Luther Hayes (1820-1895) was a lumber manufacturer).

M.V.B. Cook’s step-mother, Lydia (Blaisdell) Cook, died of lung congestion in Milton, October 28, 1890, aged eighty-three years, five months, and twenty-eight days.

DIED. In Farmington, Oct. 29, Lydia Cook, aged 83 years, 5 months and 27 days (Farmington News, October 31, 1890).

WEST MILTON. M.V.B. Cook continues to draw wood into town (Farmington News, December 26, 1890).

WEST MILTON. M.V.B. Cook is quite ill with rheumatic fever (Farmington News, December 4, 1891).

Martin V.B. Cook died of Bright’s Disease in Milton, December 21, 1891, aged fifty-three years, and one month. J.E. Scruton, M.D., of Union, [Wakefield,] NH, signed the death certificate.

M.V.B. Cook’s father, Joseph Cook, died of cystitis in Milton, August 12, 1892, aged eighty-three years, and two months. John P. Elkins, M.D., of Farmington, NH, signed the death certificate.

LOCALS. Joseph Cook of West Milton died last Friday at his home (Farmington News, August 19, 1892).

WEST MILTON. The M.V.B. Cook place is said to have been sold to Mr. Kimball and spring work is being done there (Farmington News, May 2o, 1898).

Daughter Bertha E. (Cook) Drawbridge married in Union, Wakefield, NH, June 11, 1899, Edward F. Drawbridge, she of Milton and he of Middleton, NH. He was a clerk, aged twenty-six years, and she was a milliner, aged twenty-two years. Rev. Robert H. Drawbridge performed the ceremony. She was not well and died of Bright’s Disease in Milton, less than a month later, July 6, 1899, aged twenty-two years, three months, and twenty-one years. Charles W. Gross, M.D., signed the death certificate.

WEST MILTON. On last Sunday relatives and other friends of the late Martin V. Cook went from this neighborhood to Milton Mills to attend the funeral of Mrs. Bertha Cook Drawbridge, formerly of West Milton. The Rev E.W. Churchill was the officiating clergyman, and singing was given by a mixed quartette. A great many persons were present in the large house which had been the home of the deceased, and others were in the grounds, and many beautiful flowers breathed of sympathy felt for the widowed mother, a woman held in deep respect, who mourns the loss of the last of her family, the death of the latter having been preceded by that of Mrs. Cook’s twin children, of a little daughter named [Nellie] Lizzie, and of their father. These having been removed some time ago from a private cemetery to the public enclosure near the Cutts place in Milton Mills. Mrs. Drawbridge was interred in the latter grounds. She attended in her girlhood the Nute high school, after leaving the district school, remaining as a pupil in the high school until an affection [affliction] of her eyes compelled her to relinquish her studies. She was twenty two years of age last March (Farmington News, July 14, 1899).

Administrator’s Notice. The subscriber hereby gives notice that he has been duly appointed administrator of the estate of Martin V.B. Cook, late of Milton, deceased, Intestate. All persons indebted to said estate are requested to make immediate payment, and all having claims to present them to the subscriber for adjustment. EDWARD F. DRAWBRIDGE, Administrator. Middleton, N.H., September 18, 1899. 29 (Farmington News, September 22, 1899).

William F. Cutts, a farmer, aged sixty-nine years (b. ME), headed a Milton household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his sister-in-law, Sarah E. Cook, a housekeeper, aged sixty-one years (b. ME). William F. Cutts owned their farm, free-and-clear. Their household was enumerated between those of Lincoln Goodwin, a farmer, aged thirty-nine years (b. ME), and Arastus B. Shaw, a carpenter, aged fifty-nine years (b. NH).

Mrs. Martin V.B. Cook appeared in the Milton directories of 1900, and 1902, as having her house ½ mile south of Milton Mills. (William F. Cutts appeared also as a farmer, ½ mile south of Milton Mills).

M.V.B. Cook’s sister, Mary Ann Cook, died of apoplexy, i.e., a stroke, in North Rochester, NH, September 17, 1904. M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the death certificate.

WEST MILTON. Mrs. Lizzie Cook of Milton Mills is visiting Mrs. Annie Cook (Farmington News, September 1, 1905).

J. Frank Farnham, an excelsior manufacturer, aged fifty years (b. ME), headed a Wakefield (“Union Village”) household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Ora E. [(Cutts)] Farnham, aged fifty-one years (b. ME), his daughter, Hazel A. Farnham, aged sixteen years (b. NH), and his boarder, Sarah L. Cook,  a widow (own income), aged seventy years (b. NH). Ora E. Farnham was the mother of two children, of whom two were still living. Sarah L. Cook was the mother of three children, of whom none were till living.

West Milton. Mrs. Lizzie Cook of Union, a former resident, is visiting Mrs. Annie Cook this week (Farmington News, May 10, 1912).

Annie E. (Davis) Cook (1851-1927) was the widow of Ira A. Cook (1843-1898). Her West Milton residence was known as “Maple Cottage.” It was situated on the Middleton road, so called, in the second house north of the Farmington road. That is to say, she lived on what is now called Governor’s road, two houses from its intersection with what is now NH Rte. 75). She entertained guests and boarders (boarders being usually Nute Ridge or West Milton schoolteachers), and she was active in local school activities.

West Milton. Mrs. Lizzie Cook of Union is visiting Mrs. Annie Cook the present week (Farmington News, June 21, 1912).

West Milton. Mrs. Lizzie Cook and Mrs. Frank Farnum of Milton Mills were guests at Maple Cottage on Tuesday (Farmington News, September 27, 1912).

West Milton. Mrs. Annie Cook is visiting her friend, Mrs. Lizzie Cook, at Union this week (Farmington News, April 4, 1913).

West Milton. Mrs. Annie Cook was the guest of Mrs. Lizzie Cook at Union one day last week. On Saturday the former Mrs. Cook visited her aunt, Mrs. Sophia Boyden of Dover (Farmington News, March 6, 1914).

Lizzie S. “Sarah” (Sanborn) Cook died of interstitial nephritis in Union, Wakefield, NH, June 4, 1914, aged seventy-five years, eight months, and twenty-three days. She had been resident there for twenty years, with her previous residence in neighboring Milton. Charles C. Rogers, M.D., of Farmington, NH, signed the death certificate.

WEST MILTON. The old friends and neighbors of former resident Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Cook were grieved to learn of her death, which occurred at the home of her niece and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Farnum of Union, Last Thursday morning. Death followed a short illness at the age of 76 years. The deceased was born in Acton, Me., the daughter of Luther and Abbie (Berry) Sanborn. She was the widow of Martin V.B. Cook of this town, whom she survived about twenty-two years. Mrs. Cook passed many years at the old Cook homestead, now owned by C.P. Grace. She was a woman of gentle and motherly kindness, possessed of a Christian character and the attributes of a high and noble purpose. Many among us have reason to remember her by these qualities. Funeral was held from the home last Sunday afternoon, with a large attendance of relatives and friends and a profusion of beautiful floral tributes (Farmington News, June 12, 1914).

References:

Find a Grave. (2013, August 13). Martin V.B. Cook. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115375461/martin-v.b-cook

Find a Grave. (2013, August 13). Bertha Cook Drawbridge. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115375165/bertha-drawbridge

Wikipedia. (2021, August 10). Martin Van Buren. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Van_Buren

By Muriel Bristol | August 8, 2021

Charles Henry Downs was born in Milton, circa June 1845, son of Moses and Lovina (Hanson) Downs.

Moses Downs, a farm laborer, aged sixty-two years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton P.O.”) household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Lovina Downs, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), E.A. Downs, aged nineteen years (b. NH), Albert Downs, aged twelve years (b. NH), and Chas. H. Downs, aged eleven [fifteen] years (b. NH). Their household was enumerated between those of Samuel F. Nute, a farmer, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH), and Cyrus Leighton, a farmer, aged thirty-five years (b. NH).

Charles H. Downs of Milton, a shoemaker, aged nineteen years, enlisted for the term of one year in the NH Eighteenth Regiment Volunteer Infantry, in Portsmouth, NH, April 3, 1865. He was 5′ 10½” tall, with gray eyes, dark brown hair, and a dark complexion. He was mustered in the same day under Captain Daniel Hall. He had answered the president’s call for volunteers, i.e., President Abraham Lincoln, who would be assassinated not two weeks later, April 15, 1865. Downs’ service was brief, as he was mustered out again, May 6, 1865.

Downs’ father, Moses Downs, died of consumption in Milton, December 1, 1868, aged sixty-eight years, three months, and seventeen days.

Charles L. Lord, a shoe cutter, aged twenty-seven years (b. ME), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Sarah E. [(Wallingford)] Lord, keeping house, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), and Charles Downs, works in shoe factory, aged twenty-four years (b. NH). Charles L. Lord had real estate valued at $600 and personal estate valued at $100. Their household was enumerated between those of Ezra H. Twombly, postmaster, aged forty-one years (b. NH), and John L. Wing, works in shoe factory, aged forty-six years (b. ME).

C.H. Downs appeared in the Milton directory of 1880, as proprietor of the Riverside House in Milton. (The Riverside House was actually located just across the bridge in Lebanon, ME).

Charles H. Downs, a hotel keeper, aged thirty-four years (b. NH), headed a Lebanon, ME, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his mother, Lovina Downs, keeping house, aged seventy-four years (b. NH), and his boarder, H.N. Knox, at home, aged eight years (b. ME).

C.H. Downs appeared in the Milton directories of 1881, 1882, 1884, 1887, 1889, as proprietor of the Riverside House in Milton. (The Riverside House was actually located just across the bridge in Lebanon, ME).

Downs’ mother, Lovina (Hanson) Downs, died of pneumonia in Milton, November 7, 1884, aged seventy-eight years.

MILTON. Herman Moulton has leased the Riverside House – for several years occupied by Charles Downs – and assumed proprietorship May 1st. Mr. Bailey of Farmington has leased the store adjoining the Riverside House and will soon open with a line of stoves, hardware, paints and oils (Farmington News, May 23, 1890).

The tenure of Herman L. Moulton (1859-1941), if any, was brief. C.H. Downs appeared in the Milton business directories of 1892, 1894, and 1898, as proprietor of Riverside House, on the West Lebanon road.

MILTON. Charlie Downs of Boston is at the Riverside house (Farmington News, September 14, 1894).

MILTON. The directors of the Union Ice Company were at the Riverside House last Sunday (Farmington News, October 12, 1894).

WEST MILTON. Mr. Wilder Johnson, who has been training a span of horses, has had an advantageous offer for a position at Riverside hotel at Milton for the season (Farmington News, May 3, 1895).

Wilder Johnson (1831-1903) of Farmington, NH, served in Co. K of the First ME Cavalry Regiment during the Civil War. Perhaps the advantageous position being offered was providing Riverside House’s advertised “free carriages to and from all trains.”

C.H. Downs appeared in the New England Business Directory of 1896, as proprietor of the River Side hotel in Milton. (E.M. Bodwell and F.N. Chamberlin appeared also as proprietors of the Milton and Phoenix hotels, respectively).

HERE AND THERE. Mr. Charles Downs of the Riverside Hotel in Milton broke his leg on Monday, and will be for some time confined to the house (Farmington News, May 1, 1896).

Charles H. Downs married in Milton, May 10, 1900, Sarah Gorman, both of Lebanon, ME. He was a hotel proprietor, aged fifty-five years, and she was a housekeeper, aged twenty-five years. Rev. R.M. Peacock performed the ceremony. She was born in Ireland, circa 1874, daughter of Peter and Mary Gorman.

Charles H. Downs, a hotel keeper, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), headed a Lebanon, ME, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of zero years), Sarah Downs, aged twenty-five years (b. Ireland), and his boarder, Harry Curran, a paper mill fireman, aged nineteen years (b. ME). Charles H. Downs owned their house, but with a mortgage. Sarah Downs had been seven years in the U.S., having immigrated in 1893.

C.H. Downs appeared in the Milton business directory of 1901, as proprietor of Riverside House.

MILTON. C.H. Downs, proprietor of the Riverside House, had twenty-eight transient boarders last week (Farmington News, February 15, 1901).

The most likely source of so many wintertime transient boarders would have been Milton’s ice industry.

NEWS OF THE STATE. Milton is the largest storage centre for ice on the Boston & Maine R.R., with a capacity of 114,000 tons. Sanbornville stores 80,000 tons (Farmington News, March 15, 1901).

C.H. Downs appeared in the New England Business Directory of 1902, as proprietor of the Riverside hotel in Milton. (E.M. Bodwell and F.M. Chamberlin appeared also as proprietors of the Milton and Phoenix hotels, respectively; C.D. Fox appeared as proprietor of the Central hotel in Milton Mills).

Charles H. Downs died of stomach cancer in Lebanon, ME, April 20, 1902, aged fifty-seven years, three months, and nineteen days. James J. Buckley, M.D., signed the death certificate. He was a married hotel keeper.

References:

Find a Grave. (2009, November 26). Charles Henry Downs. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/44820130/charles-henry-downs

Sampson and Murdock. (1896).New England Business Directory and Gazetteer, 1896. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=AOw1AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA291

By Muriel Bristol | August 1, 2021

Luther Hayes (1820-1895) was a South Milton lumber dealer and farmer. He served also as NH State Representative (1857-58 and 1876-77), Strafford County Commissioner (1864-67), Strafford County Sheriff (1866-69), Strafford County Deputy Sheriff (1870-71), NH Fish Commissioner (1876-86), and NH State Senator (1879-80).

Hayes was thrice married and had eleven children. (Those in bolded type survived to appear in his last will). By his first wife, Louise A. Bragdon (1820-1859), he had six children: Lydia E. Hayes (1841-1876), Clara A. Hayes (1843-1879), Louisa M. Hayes (1846-1915), Charles H. Hayes (1849-1916), George A. Hayes (1852-1924), and Samuel L. Hayes (1855-1859).

By his second wife, Sarah M. Cochran (1834-1871), he had four children: Samuel L. Hayes [II] (1862-1946) (aka S. Lyman or Lyman S. Hayes), Fannie L. Hayes (1865-1953), Hattie E. Hayes (1868-1951), and Luther C. Hayes (1869-1952).

By his third and last wife, Ellen R. Morrill (1840-1909), he had one child, Clarence M. Hayes (1878-1915).

His last wife and eight of his eleven children were living and mentioned in his last will.

Ellen R. [(Morrill)] Hayes, a widowed housekeeper, aged fifty-nine years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. Her household included her [step-] daughter, Hattie [(Hayes)] Dewolfe, a divorcée, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), her [step-] granddaughter, Helen Dewolfe, at school, aged nine years (b. NH), her [step-] son, Luther Hayes, a farm laborer, aged thirty years (b. NH), her son, Clarence M. Hayes, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), and her servants, Edgar J. Wyatt, a farm laborer, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH), and Helen Crossman, a house servant, aged twenty-nine years (b. Canada (Eng.)). Ellen R. Hayes owned their farm, free-and-clear. Ellen R. Hayes and Hattie Dewolfe were each mothers of one child, of whom each had one still living. Their household appeared in the enumeration after that of Annie M. George, a widowed housekeeper, aged seventy-one years (b. NH).

Will of Luther Hayes

In the name of God, Amen!

I, Luther Hayes, of Milton in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire, being of sound mind and understanding [and] considering the uncertainty of life, do make, publish and declare this my last will and testament, in manner following, viz:

First. I direct my Executors hereinafter named to pay all my just debts, if any, and funeral expenses, soon as may be after my decease.

Second. I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved wife, Ellen R. Hayes, one acre of land in said Milton with the buildings thereon, known as the Bragdon place and situate directly opposite my homestead where we now live.

Also the field north of said Bragdon place bounded by the highway and the Railroad landing and the Boston and Maine Railroad and partition wall opposite the Bragdon barn, so called.

“The writer [John Scales] is of the opinion that Jonathan Twombly is entitled to the honor of making the first settlement [in Milton] near the Twombly brook, and upon the farm now owned by Hon. Luther Hayes, and sometimes called the Bragdon farm. Samuel Bragdon having purchased the farm from a son of Mr. Twombly in about 1800. Mr. Twombly and his wife and some of their children were, no doubt, buried upon this farm. An ancient headstone records that Hannah Twombly died in February, 1769. She was doubtless a daughter of Jonathan and this is believed to be the oldest grave in Milton” (Scales, 1914).

Also the wood lot on the easterly side of the Boston and Maine Railroad, and bounded by land of Henry B. Scates and Salmon Falls River and the field herein given my son Luther C. Hayes, reserving a right of way across said wood lot to my said son, his heirs and assigns.

Neighbor Henry B. Scates (1831-1919) was one-half of the partnership of Scates & Lyman, competing South Milton lumber dealers. At this time, he was also Strafford County jailor in Dover, NH (Farmington News, March 31, 1893).

Also the sum due from the N.H. Odd Fellows Relief Association, at my decease, and provided said sum then due shall not equal Five Hundred Dollars, a sufficient sum to be paid by my Executors to make said sum of Five Hundred Dollars.

The NH Odd Fellows Mutual Relief Association was based in Manchester, NH. John A. Glidden (1836-1913) was its president and S.C. Gould (1840-1909) was its secretary (Spectator Company, 1897). Glidden was an undertaker in Dover, NH, and S.C. Gould was a bookseller in Manchester, NH.

Also a good family horse wagon, sleigh and harness, and robe, of the value of two hundred and fifty dollars. Also one cow of the value of thirty dollars, to be pastured by my son Luther C. Hayes.

Also one Silver Service, being the same given me by Burley & Usher on my seventieth birthday, for her own use and benefit during her natural life, and at her decease to my daughter Hattie E. DeWolfe, if living, otherwise to my granddaughter Helen M. DeWolfe.

Granddaughter Helen M. DeWolfe married in Somersworth, NH, April 28, 1913, Milledge G. Leeman, both of Milton. She was a milliner, aged twenty-one years, and he was a moulder, aged twenty-three years. Rev. Burton H. Tilton performed the ceremony.

Also the right to use such farming tools belonging to my son Luther C. Hayes, so long as she shall choose and elect to remain there, on condition that during such time my said son Luther C. Hayes shall have the use and income of the real estate herein given her.

Also the right to sit in the pew now owned by me in the Free Baptist Church in said Milton so long as she may choose. All the hereinbefore mentioned legacies given my beloved wife being in lieu of dower and homestead.

Third, I give and bequeath to my son Clarence M. Hayes the sum of Two Hundred Dollars, and in the Event of my death before he arrives at the age of twenty-one years the income of said sum shall be used for his education until he shall become of age. I also give and bequeath to my said son Clarence M. my Masonic bosom studs.

The youngest of the surviving children, Clarence M. Hayes, resided with his mother in the Hayes’s South Milton homestead at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census.

Clarence M. Hayes married in Orono, ME, June 14, 1904, Mary A. Cowan, he of Milton and she of Orono, ME. He was a mechanical engineer, aged twenty-six years, and she was a teacher, aged twenty-eight years.

Fourth. I give and bequeath to my son Samuel Lyman Hayes the sum of Five Hundred Dollars, also my gold Masonic sleeve buttons.

The fourth of the surviving children, S. Lyman Hayes, had married in Milton, October 9, 1885, Annie F. Corson, both of Milton. He was a R.R.P. [railroad postal] clerk, aged twenty-two years, and she was a lady, aged twenty-one years. Rev. Charles E. Mason performed the ceremony.

Samuel Lyman Hayes, a railway postal clerk, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton Village”) household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of fifteen years), Anne F. [(Corson)] Hayes, aged thirty-four years (b. NH), his children, Walter Y. Hayes, aged fourteen years (b. NH), Lawrence C. Hayes, aged twelve years (b. NH), Luther H. Hayes, aged ten years (b. NH), Morris L. Hayes, aged six years (b. NH), Blanche C. Hayes, aged four years (b. NH), and Norman H. Hayes, aged nine months (b. NH), and his mother-in-law, Clara [(Downs)] Corson, aged fifty-five years (b. NH). Samuel Lyman Hayes owned their house, free-and-clear. Anne F. Hayes was the mother of six children, of whom six were still living. Clara Corson was the mother of four children, of whom one was still living. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of William Stevens, a painter (house), aged thirty years (b. ME), and Henry Drew, a farm laborer, aged sixty-four years (b. NH).

Fifth. I give and bequeath to my daughter Fannie L. Hayes the sum of Five Hundred Dollars; also one Prescott Organ, now in my house at said Milton.

The fifth of the surviving children, Fanny Hayes, a school teacher, aged thirty-four years (b. NH), headed a Haverhill, MA, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. Her household included her lodger, Ada B. Berry, a school teacher, aged forty-two years (b. MA). Fanny Hayes rented their part of a two-family house at 272 Washington Street, which they shared with the household of William Martin, a hat finisher, aged thirty-two years (b. England). (Her brother, Charles H. Hayes, resided at 266 Washington Street).

Fannie Lawrence Hayes married in Milton, December 25, 1919, Frank Nathaniel Rand, she of Milton and he of Haverhill, MA. She was a schoolteacher, aged fifty-four years, and he was a widowed real estate contractor, aged fifty-six years. Rev. James W. Tingley performed the ceremony.

Sixth. I give and bequeath to my daughter Hattie E. DeWolfe the sum of Five Hundred Dollars, also my China Tea Set, she to have a home with my son Luther C. Hayes for five years after my decease if she wishes.

The sixth of the surviving children, Hattie E. Hayes, had married (1st) in Milton, November 30, 1890, Charles F. DeWolf, she of Milton and he of North Adams, MA. Both were aged twenty-two years; she was a lady. Rev. John Manter performed the ceremony. They had one daughter, Helen M. DeWolfe. Hattie E. DeWolfe of Milton, MA [NH], divorced Charles DeWolfe of Marlborough, MA, in Strafford County Court, September 1894. She alleged abandonment.

Hattie E. [(Hayes)] DeWolfe (and her daughter, Helen DeWolfe) resided with her step-mother in the Hayes’s South Milton homestead at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census.

Seventh. I give and bequeath to my son Charles Hayes my undivided one-half interest in and to a certain wood lot in Lebanon, Maine, known as the Tuttle lot, owned by me in common with my said son. Also my one-half interest in a certain other piece of real estate owned in common with my said son, George A. Hayes and Louisa M. Wentworth, their interest being through inheritance from their mother, Louisa M. Hayes, said land being situate in said Milton on the easterly side of the highway leading past my homestead premises, bounded by the land of Ellen H. Twombly, Salmon Falls river and a stone wall, and line continued from said stone wall to said river, being the partition wall hereinbefore mentioned, bounded also by the one acre of land herein devised to my wife. I also give and bequeath to my said son Charles H. my two Masonic charms.

The second of the surviving children, Charles H. Hayes, had married in Milton, July 2, 1870, Nellie M. Gile[s], he of Milton and she of Raymond, NH. He was a boxmaker, aged twenty-one years, and she was aged twenty years. Rev. Ezra Tuttle, V.D.M., performed the ceremony.

Charles H. Hayes, a box manufacturer, aged fifty-one years (b. NH), headed a Haverhill, MA, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty years), Nellie M. Hayes, aged fifty years (b. NH), his children, William C. Hayes, an order clerk for a box manufacturer, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), and Marian Hayes, at school, aged eight years (b. MA), his nephew, Harry F. Hayes, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), and his servant, Julia A. McCarthy, a servant, aged twenty-two years (b. Ireland). Charles H. Hayes owned their house at 266 Washington Street, free-and-clear. (His sister, Fanny Hayes, resided at 272 Washington Street). Nellie M. Hayes was the mother of five children, of whom three were still living. Julia A. McCarthy had immigrated into the U.S. in 1897.

Eighth. I give and bequeath to my son George A. Hayes the sum of Three Hundred Dollars, the same being in addition to One Hundred Dollars recently given him, together with one hundred Dollars’ worth of lumber for the erection of a house.

The third of the surviving children, George A. Hayes, had married in Rochester, NH, May 1, 1872, [Norma] Eldora Tuttle, he of Milton and she of Lebanon, ME. He was a farmer, aged twenty years, and she was aged seventeen years. Rev. George S. Hill performed the ceremony.

George A. Hayes, a carpenter, aged forty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton Village”) household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-eight years), Norma E. Hayes, aged forty-five years (b. NH), his children, Theodore L. Hayes, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH), Guy L. Hayes, a carpenter, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), his daughter-in-law, Myrta E. Hayes, aged twenty-six years (b. ME), and his mother-in-law, Mary H. Tuttle, aged seventy-nine years (b. MA). George A. Hayes owned their house, but with a mortgage. Norma E. Hayes was the mother of four children, of whom three were still living. Mary H. Tuttle was the mother of seven children, of whom two were still living. Their household appeared in the enumeration between the households of Henry Meader, employed in the paper mill, aged thirty-three years (b. ME), and Ann A. [(Wiggin)] Hersom, a widowed nurse, aged fifty-seven years (b. NH).

Ninth. I give and bequeath to my daughter Louisa M. Wentworth the sum of Three Hundred Dollars. Also such articles of household furniture and furnishings not herein disposed of specifically, not exceeding in value the sum of twenty-five dollars.

The eldest of the surviving children, Louisa M. Hayes, had married in Dover, NH, January 17, 1865, Henry H. Wentworth, both of Milton. Rev. J.T.G. Colby performed the ceremony.

Henry Wentworth, a truckman, aged fifty-six years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton Village”) household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Louisa M. Wentworth, aged fifty-three years (b. NH). Henry Wentworth owned their house, free-and-clear. Louisa M. Wentworth was the mother of one child, of whom one was still living. They appeared in the enumeration between the households of George E. Wentworth, a butcher, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), and Daniel Corkery, proprietor of hand shoe shop, aged fifty-seven years (b. Canada).

Tenth. I give, bequeath and devise to my grandson Luther Howe Hayes, son of Samuel L. Hayes, a certain tract of land in said Milton, bounded by lands of Ellen H. Twombly, George H. Jones and others, containing about ten acres and known as the Eri Wentworth lot, the above named grandchild is thus remembered in my will because of his name.

The former owner of the ten-acre lot, Eri Wentworth, died of consumption in Milton, January 31, 1869, aged fifty-three years, two months, and twenty-one days. He was a farmer, and son of Isaac and Lucy (Twombly) Wentworth. One of the adjoining properties was owned still by their daughter, Ellen H. (Wentworth) Twombly, wife of James H. Twombly.

Namesake grandson Luther H. Hayes resided in the Milton household of his parents, Samuel L. and Anne F. (Corson) Hayes, at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census.

Luther H. Hayes married in Palmer, MA, June 22, 1915, Irene C. LeGro, he of Keene, NH, and she of Palmer, MA. He was a manager, aged twenty-five years, and she was at home, aged twenty-seven years.

Eleventh. I give, bequeath and devise to my son Luther C. Hayes, my homestead farm with the buildings thereon situate in said Milton where I now reside, known as the Walker farm. Also a field on the Easterly side of the Boston and Maine Railroad, situate in said Milton, bounded by the before named partition wall and straight line, to the Salmon Falls River, by said River to wood lot hereinbefore devised to my wife, and said Boston and Maine Railroad, said tract being formerly owned by John Bragdon.

Also one other piece of land situate in said Milton known as the Wakham [Wakeham] lot, and owned by me in common and undivided with George A. Hayes, Charles H. Hayes, and Louisa M. Wentworth, any interest herein devised being one undivided half part.

I also give and bequeath my said son Luther C. all my farming tools and household furniture not hereinbefore disposed of, my gold watch and chain; also to my said son Luther C. I give, devise and bequeath my pew in the Free Baptist Church in said Milton, with all other rights and franchises I now hold in said Church or the Society.

Also all crops gathered or ungathered at the time of my decease, meaning the crops of that year. Also the sum of Five Hundred Dollars in money. The specific legacies of Five Hundred Dollars each given my children Samuel L., Fannie L., Hattie E. and Luther C. are the two thousand dollars due them at my decease on Policy No. 17,565 of the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, and the legacy and devise herein given my son Luther C. Hayes, is chargeable with the payment of the sum of Five Hundred Dollars herein given to my son Clarence M. Hayes.

Also the support and maintenance of my wife and the rights of a home for my daughter Hattie E., as hereinbefore provided.

Also the payment of twenty-five dollars annually for the term of five years after my decease for the support of preaching in the Free Baptist Church in said Milton. Also the proper care and maintenance of the family burial lot on my homestead farm.

The seventh of the surviving children, Luther C. Hayes, resided with his step-mother in the Hayes’s South Milton homestead at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census.

Luther C. Hayes married in Rochester, NH, September 2, 1903, Cora E. McDuffie, he of Milton and she of Rochester, NH. He was a farmer, aged thirty-three years, and she was a teacher, aged twenty-two years. Rev. John Manter performed the ceremony.

Twelfth. All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, real, personal, and mixed, wherever found and however situate, I give, devise and bequeath to my daughter Hattie E. DeWolfe.

Hattie E. DeWolfe married (2nd) in Milton, 1903, Edgar J. Wyatt, she of Milton and he of Farmington, NH. She was a housekeeper, aged thirty-four years, and he was a teamster, aged thirty-one years.

Thirteenth. I hereby nominate and appoint Charles H. Hayes, Samuel L. Hayes, and Charles A. Jones, of said Milton, Executors of this my last will and testament, revoking and all former wills by me made. Said Executors to serve without bonds.

Two of the executors were Hayes’ sons, one from each of his first two marriages. The third executor, Charles A. Jones (1851-1934), was a Milton farmer.

Witness my hand and seal this second day of April, 1894.

Luther Hayes (Seal)

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named Luther Hayes, as and for his last will and testament, and by us in his presence and in the presence of each other, at his request, subscribed as witnesses.

Augustine S. Parshley, Horace L. Worcester, George E. Cochrane

Civil War veteran Augustine S. Parshley (1840-1901) appeared in the Rochester directory of 1900, as an insurance and real estate agent with the firm of A.S. Parshley & Son, at 14 Main street (the Wentworth Block), with his house at 62 Charles street.

Civil War veteran Horace L. Worcester (1846-1928) appeared in the Rochester directory of 1900, as being retired, with his house at 42 Wakefield street. Prior to his retirement, he was a partner in the periodicals store of Worcester & Greenfield.

Civil War veteran George E. Cochrane (1844-1912) appeared in the Rochester directory of 1900, as a lawyer at 30 No. Main street, with his house at 16 Autumn street.

One might suppose that Luther Hayes traveled from his home near Hayes Station in South Milton to Rochester, possibly via the Boston and Maine Railroad. There he would have visited lawyer Cochrane for the drafting of the will. After Hayes signed the will, Cochrane and the other two men, who were also Rochester residents, then signed as witnesses.

The State of New Hampshire. Strafford, Ss. – At a Court of Probate holden at Dover in and for said County on the second day of April, A.D. 1895. Upon due consideration of the foregoing petition, praying that the instrument herewith presented, purported to be the Last Will of Luther Hayes, late of Milton, in said County of Strafford, deceased, may be proved and allowed in common form, and letters testamentary be issued to them, the Executors herein named, no party objecting thereto, and it appearing to me, the Judge of Probate for said County of Strafford, by the testimony in Court of George E. Cochrane, one of the witnesses whose names are to the same will subscribed, – that at the time of the Execution of said instrument the deceased was of the age of twenty-one years and of sound mind, that he did sign and seal the same as his last Will, and that the said George E. Cochrane, with Augustine S. Parshley and Horace L. Worcester attested and subscribed the same together as witnesses to the Execution thereof in the presence of said Testator. I do therefore decree that the said instrument be, and is hereby, proved and allowed as the last Will of the said Luther Hayes, deceased, and that letters testamentary be issued to said petitioners, they having filed bond as required by law.

Robert G. Pike, Judge of Probate (Strafford County Probate, 104:542).

The abbreviation S.s. seen at the head of so many legal documents is short for the Latin phrase scilicet, which means “namely” or “in particular.” In this case, the identifications State of New Hampshire and County of Strafford specified insufficiently the location of what follows. “Namely” or “in particular” at Dover was required to complete the picture.

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See also South Milton’s High Sheriff Luther Hayes (1820-1895)

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References:

Find a Grave. (2011, March 26). Lydia Elizabeth Hayes Cloutman. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/67476190/lydia-elizabeth-cloutman

Find a Grave. (2011, March 26). Clarence M. Hayes. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/67487329/clarence-m-hayes

Find a Grave. (2010, March 8). Luther Hayes. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/49429209/luther-hayes

Find a Grave. (2010, March 9). Luther C. Hayes. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/49457974/luther-c-hayes

Find a Grave. (2014, June 27). Luther Howe Hayes. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/131950581/luther-howe-hayes

Find a Grave. (2011, March 26). Clara A. Hayes Pounds. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/67476266/clara-a-pounds

Find a Grave. (2011, March 26). Hattie E. Hayes Wyatt. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/67486671/hattie-e-wyatt

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