By Muriel Bristol | September 25, 2022
James Meserve Twombly was born in Rochester, NH, i.e., in its Northeast Parish that would become Milton, November 3, 1798, son of John Jr. and Abigail (Meserve) Twombly.
James M. Twombly married, circa 1824, Eunice Burrows. She was born in Lebanon, ME, June 4, 1799, daughter of Edward Jr. and Margaret (Chamberlain) Burrows.
(The known children of James M. and Eunice (Burrows) Twombly were: Irene B. Twombly (1826–1894), Ezra H. Twombly (1830–1883), Mary Abigail Twombly (1833–1891), John E. Twombly (1836–1888), and Lilian A. Twombly (1864–1885)).
Daughter Irene B. Twombly was born in Milton, April 26, 1826.
James M. Twombly received his first Federal appointment as Milton postmaster, September 26, 1827. Twombly was appointed during the presidency of Democratic-Republican John Q. Adams and continued in office throughout the presidency of Democrat Andrew Jackson, from which one might infer that he too was a Democrat (at that time). He would be succeeded by [Dr.] Stephen Drew, June 17, 1837, during the presidency of Democrat Martin Van Buren.
James M. Twombly appeared in the U.S. Postal Guide of 1828 as Milton postmaster. Milton was 525 miles from Washington, DC, and 58 miles from the NH State capitol in Concord, NH. John Nutter was postmaster at Milton Mills (US Post Office Dept., 1828).
Son Ezra H. Twombly was born in Milton, January 6, 1830.
Jas. M. Twombly headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 30-39 years [himself], one female aged 30-39 years [Eunice (Burrows) Twombly], one female aged under-5 years [Irene B. Twombly], and one male aged under-5 years [Ezra H. Twombly]. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of Stephen Maine, and John Willey.
James M. Twombly appeared in the US Register of 1831, as having received $10.14 in compensation for being Milton postmaster (US Dept. of State, 1831).
James M. Twombly appeared in the NH Register of 1833, as being the Milton postmaster. Israel Nute was postmaster at Chestnut Hills and John Nutter was postmaster at Milton Mills (Farmer & Lyon, 1833).
Daughter Mary Abigail Twombly was born in Milton, June 24, 1833.
J.M. Twombly appeared in the US Register of 1835, as having received $10.90 in compensation for being Milton postmaster. John Nutter had received $7.51 for being Milton Mills postmaster in that same period (US Dept. of State, 1835).
Son John E.B. Twombly was born in Milton, January 3, 1836.
J.M. Twombly appeared in the US Register of 1838, as having received $20.90 in compensation for having been Milton postmaster in 1837. John Nutter had received $12.49 for being Milton Mills postmaster in that same period (US Dept. of State, 1838).
Milton sent James M. Twombly to Concord, NH, as its NH State Representative for the 1837-38 biennium. He was preceded in that office by [Dr.] Stephen Drew and succeeded by James Berry (Scales, 1914).
Representative James M. Twombly sat in 1838 on the Committee on Military Accounts, with Representatives Joseph S. Pollard of Plaistow, NH, Trueworthy Hill of Lee, NH, Richard M. Nelson of Lyman, NH, and Jason Saunders of Grafton County, NH (NH General Court, 1838).
Mr. Twombly presented the petition of John French and others, citizens of Milton (NH General Court, 1838).
The Milton petition was one of a number of such petitions: “All praying for the enactment of a law to prevent disturbances at religious meetings.” The meetings for which protection was sought were so-called “Camp” Meetings. The bill was laid upon the table, i.e., set aside.
James M. Twombly headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 30-39 years [himself], one female aged 30-39 years [Eunice (Burrows) Twombly], one male aged 20-29 years, one female aged 10-14 years [Irene B. Twombly], one male aged 10-14 years [Ezra H. Twombly], one female aged 5-9 years [Mary A. Twombly], and one male aged 5-9 years [John E. Twombly]. Two members of his household were engaged in Commerce. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of Benjamin Willey, 2d, and Elizabeth Gerrish.
James M. Twombly was Milton Town Clerk in the years 1841 to 1851. He was preceded in that office by Stephen M. Mathes and succeeded by Robert Mathes (Scales, 1914).
Irene B. Twombly married, probably in Milton, circa 1849, Daniel P. Warren. He was born in Rochester, NH, March 26, 1815, son of William and Susan (Roberts) Warren.
Jas. M. Twombly received his second Federal appointment as Milton postmaster, January 18, 1850. Twombly was appointed during the presidency of Whig Zachary Taylor, from which one might infer that he had become a Whig at some time since his prior appointment ended in 1837. Taylor died in office and his vice-president, Millard Fillmore, completed his term. Twombly continued as postmaster throughout the Fillmore’s term. Fillmore would be the last Whig president. The Whigs merged subsequently with anti-slavery Democrats and others to form the Republican party.
James Twombly, a farmer, aged fifty-two years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Eunice [(Burrows)] Twombly, aged fifty-one years (b. ME), Ezra Twombly, a trader, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), Mary A. Twombly, aged seventeen years (b. NH), and John E.B. Twombly, aged fourteen years (b. NH). James Twombly had real estate valued at $3,000. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of George Worster, a machinist, aged thirty-nine years (b. NH), and Stephen Downs, a farmer, aged forty-one years (b. NH).
Daniel P. Warren, a shoe manufacturer, aged thirty-four years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Irene B. Warren, aged twenty-four years (b. NH). Daniel P. Warren had real estate valued at $2,500. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of Leonard Ricker, a shoemaker, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), and George Carlisle, a blacksmith, aged fifty-four years (b. ME).
James M. Twombly appeared in the NH Register of 1851, as being the Milton postmaster. J. Pearl was postmaster at Chestnut Hills and Gilman Jewett was postmaster at Milton Mills (Claremont Mfg. Co., 1851).
Milton postmaster, James M. Twombly, received $112.81 and his post office had net proceeds of $148.10. Postmaster Gilman Jewett received $56.88 in compensation for his work at the Milton Mills post office in 1851, and his post office had net proceeds of $77.66. (US Dept. of the Interior, 1851).
J.M. Twombly served as Milton postmaster through April 19, 1853, being replaced then by James Connor. Twombly’s compensation, as well as that of Connor through June 30, amounted to $72.08. (Other sources report Twombly’s last day as having been April 2, 1853). The net proceeds of the post office in that same period ran to $81.54. Connor received his appointment at the beginning of the presidency of Democrat Franklin Pierce. Postmaster Gilman Jewett received $51.62 in compensation for his work at the Milton Mills post office in 1851, and his post office had net proceeds of $55.29 (US Dept. of the Interior, 1853).
Son Ezra H. Twombly married in Dover, NH, March 5, 1855, Lucinda K. Hanson, he of Milton and she of Dover, NH. Rev. Lewis Howard performed the ceremony. She was born in Dover, NH, December 29, 1828, daughter of Israel and Eunice (Twombly) Hanson.
Eunice (Burrows) Twombly died of consumption in Milton, March 2, 1859, aged fifty-nine years, nine months, and twenty-four days.
James M. Twombly, a farmer, aged sixty years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton P.O.”) household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included [Mary] Abba Twombly, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), and John E. Twombly, a farmer, aged twenty-three years (b. NH). James M. Twombly had real estate valued at $6,000 and personal estate valued at $2,000. His household appeared between those of Ira S. Knox, a shoemaker, aged thirty years (b. NH), and Lewis N. Berry, a shoe manufacturer, aged thirty-six years (b. NH). (The households of son-in-law D.P. Warren and son E.H. Twombly appeared on the same page).
D.P. Warren, a shoe manufacturer, aged forty-four years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton P.O.”) household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Irene B. Warren, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), Edgar B. Warren, aged eight years (b. NH), and Eunice E. Warren, aged three years (b. NH). D.P. Warren had real estate valued at $4,000 and personal estate valued at $7,000. His household appeared between those of E.R. Lord, aged thirty-nine years (b. NH), and James W. Nutter, a shoemaker, aged thirty-one years (b. NH). (The households of father-in-law James M. Twombly and brother-in-law E.H. Twombly appeared on the same page).
E.H. Twombly, a merchant, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), headed a Milton (Milton P.O.) household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Lucinda K. Twombly, aged thirty-one years (b. NH), Isabel Twombly, aged four years (b. NH), and Susan A. Twombly, aged two years (b. NH), and, apparently, George A. Randall, aged ten years (b. NH), Charles E. Randall, aged nine years (b. NH), and E.F. Randall, aged six years (b. NH). E.H. Twombly had real estate valued at $3,500 and personal estate valued at $2,500. Their household appeared in the enumeration between the households of Benjamin Randall, a farm laborer, aged fifty-three years (b. NH), and W. Laskey, a laborer, aged thirty years (b. NH). (The households of father James M. Twombly and brother-in-law D.P. Warren appeared on the same page).
Daughter Mary A. Twombly married, probably in Milton, circa 1860, John F. Hart. (See Milton Merchant John F. Hart (1829-1896)).
Son Ezra H. Twombly replaced James R. Palmer as Milton postmaster, April 12, 1861. (This was the same day that Fort Sumpter was attacked in Charleston harbor, which is generally regarded as the start of the Civil War).
James M. Twombly married (2nd), circa 1862-63, Lydia A. Perkins. She was born in Lancaster, NH, in 1829, daughter of John and Mary (Ela) Perkins.
Daughter Lillian Adelaide Twombly was born in Lebanon, ME, in 1864.
Son John E. Twombly married in Somersworth, NH, July 29, 1868, Lydia Ann “Annie” Waterhouse, he of Milton and she of Dover, NH. He was a merchant, aged thirty-two years, and she was a lady, aged twenty-eight years. Rev. O. Jasper performed the ceremony. She was born in Strafford, NH, January 4, 1843, daughter of Benjamin F. and Lydia M. (Tuttle) Waterhouse.
James Twombly, a farmer, aged seventy-one years (b. NH), headed a Lebanon, ME, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Lydia [(Perkins)] Twombly, keeping house, aged forty-one years (b. NH), and Lillian A. Twombly, aged six years (b. ME). James Twombly had real estate valued at $300 and personal estate valued at $300. (Their entry had an error, by which James Twombly was enumerated as a member of the preceding household of Samuel Knox, a laborer, aged sixty-six years (b. ME), rather than as the head of his own household).
Betsy M. [(Roberts)] Meserve, keeping house, aged fifty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Charlestown, MA, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. Her household included Daniel P. Warren, a grocer, aged fifty-three years (b. NH), Irene Warren, keeping house, aged forty-two years (b. NH), Edgar B. Warren, attending school, aged eighteen years (b. NH), and Ennie Warren, attending school, aged thirteen years (b. NH). Betsy M. Meserve had real estate valued at $3,500. She was the widow of Charles Y. Meserve (1815-1869). (See Milton Trader Hopley Meserve (1789-1875)).
Ezra H. Twombly, post-master, aged forty-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Lucinda K. Twombly, keeping house, aged forty-two years (b. NH), Isabella Twombly, at home, aged fourteen years (b. NH), and Susan A. Twombly, at school, aged twelve years (b. NH). Ezra H. Twombly had real estate valued at $3,500 and personal estate valued at $385. Their household appeared in the enumeration between the households of Hazen Duntley, a blacksmith, aged sixty-five years (b. NH), and Charles L. Lord, a shoe cutter, aged twenty-seven years (b. ME).
John F. Hart, works in shoe factory, aged forty-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton P.O.”) household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Mary A. Hart, keeping house, aged thirty-four years (b. NH), Delta A. Hart, at school, aged eight years (b. NH), Cisco W. Hart, at school, aged six years (b. NH), Paulina Hart, at school, aged four years (b. NH), and Dana B. Hart, aged two years (b. NH). John F. Hart had real estate valued at $750 and personal estate valued at $1,015. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of Charles H. Pease, works in shoe factory, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), and Robert Mathes, a farm laborer, aged fifty-eight years (b. NH).
John E. Twombly, a retail grocer, aged thirty-four years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Lydia A. [(Waterhouse)] Twombly, keeping house, aged thirty years (b. NH), Clarence E. Twombly, aged eleven months (b. NH), and Ora J. Downs, at school, aged twelve years (b. NH). John E. Twombly had personal estate valued at $2,335. Their household appeared in the enumeration between the households of James W. Nutter, works in shoe factory, aged forty-one years (b. NH), and George W. Peavey, a physician, aged thirty-one years (b. NH).
John E. Twombly’s store (and his brother’s post-office within it) burned to the ground on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1870. Postmaster Ezra H. Twombly would be succeeded in that office by Charles H. Looney, January 17, 1872.
James M. Twombly, a farmer, aged eighty-one years (b. NH), headed a Lebanon, ME, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Lydia M. [(Perkins)] Twombly, keeping house, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH), and his daughter, Lillian A. Twombly, at home, aged fifteen years (b. ME).
Daniel P. Warren, a book agent, aged sixty years (b. NH), headed a Somerville, MA, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Irena B. Warren, keeping house, aged fifty-two years (b. NH), and his children, Edgar B. Warren, shoe business, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH), Eunie E. Warren, a music teacher, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), and his boarder, Dyer Smith, at home, aged seventy-nine years (b. MA).
Ezra H. Twombly, a laborer, aged fifty years (b. NH), headed a Dover, NH, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Lucinda K. Twombly, keeping house, aged fifty-one years (b. NH), and his children, Isabel N. Twombly, works in millinery store, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), and Annette S. Twombly, a schoolteacher, aged twenty-two years (b. NH). They resided on Portland Street.
John F. Hart, a merchant, aged fifty-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton P.O.”) household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included Mary A. Hart, keeps house, aged forty-seven years (b. NH), Delta C. Hart, works on shoes, aged eighteen years (b. NH), Cisco W. Hart, works on shoes, aged sixteen years (b. NH), Paulina E. Hart, at school, aged fourteen years (b. NH), Dana B. Hart, at school, aged twelve years (b. NH), and Bridie B. Hart, aged four years (b. NH). His household appeared in the enumeration between those of Hiram V.R. Edgerly, a carpenter, aged fifty-four years (b. NH), and Henry Downs, a farmer, aged sixty years (b. Canada).
John E. Twombly, a clerk in grocer’s store, aged forty-four years (b. NH), headed a Dover, NH, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included Lydia A. [(Waterhouse)] Twombly, keeping house, aged forty years (b. NH), Clarence E. Twombly, at school, aged eleven years (b. NH), James F. Twombly, at school, aged nine years (b. NH), Mary F. Twombly, at school, aged six years (b. NH), Benjamin F. Twombly, aged two years (b. NH), and Edith G. Twombly, aged ten months (b. NH). They resided on Silver Street.
Son-in-law Daniel P. Warren died of heart disease in Winthrop, MA, June 7, 1881, aged sixty-seven years, two months, and twelve days.
Son Ezra H. Twombly died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Dover, N.H., December 13, 1883, aged fifty-four years. (This date, as reported in several newspapers, is at variance with NH vital records, which gave his death as having taken place a week later, December 19, 1883).
BY TELEGRAPH. Ezra H. Twombly, widely known as a prominent citizen, died at Dover, N.H., this morning in an appoplectic fit, aged 50 years (Fall River Daily Evening News (Fall River, MA), December 13, 1883).
Daughter Lillian A. Twombly married in Lebanon, NE, January 20, 1885, James Fred Goodrich, she of Lebanon, ME, and he of Moultonborough, NH. He was a millman, aged twenty-two years, and she was a housewife, aged twenty years. Rev. F.E. Briggs performed the ceremony. Goodrich was born in Somersworth, NH, circa 1863, son of James W. and Mary C. Goodrich.
Daughter Lillian A. (Twombly) Goodrich died in Lebanon, ME, August 20, 1885, aged twenty-one years, one month, and sixteen days.
James M. Twombly died in Lebanon, ME, October 25, 1885.
Son John E. Twombly died of a gastric tumor in Dover, NH, August 24, 1888, aged fifty-two years.
Daughter Mary A. (Twombly) Hart died of gastric fever in Milton, September 3, 1891, aged fifty-eight years.
Irena B. Warren appeared in the Somerville, MA, directory of 1892, as the widow of Daniel P. Warren, with her house at 2 Charles street. Edgar B. Warren appeared as a traveling salesman (134 Summer street, Boston), boarding at 2 Charles street. Eunice E. Warren appeared as a music teacher, boarding at 2 Charles street.
Daughter Irena B. (Twombly) Warren died of consumption of the bowels in Somerville, MA, May 30, 1894, aged sixty-seven years, nine months. She was the widow of Daniel P. Warren.
Son-in-law John F. Hart died in Milton, January 3, 1896, aged sixty-seven years.
Daughter-in-law Lucinda K. (Hanson) Twombly died of cardiac disease in Dover, NH, July 19, 1910, aged eighty-two years, six months, and twenty days.
Lydia A. (Perkins) Twombly died of pneumonia in Lebanon, ME, April 8, 1912, aged eighty-two years, seven months, and sixteen days, M.A.H. Hart signed the death certificate.
Daughter-in-law Lydia A. (Waterhouse) Twombly died in Roslindale, MA, July 16, 1916.
DEATHS. TWOMBLY. In Roslindale, July 16, Lydia A., widow of John E. Twombly. Funeral from her late residence, 205 Belgrade av, Roslindale, Tuesday, July 18, at 3 p.m. Burial at Dover, N.H. Dover, N.H., papers please copy (Boston Globe, July 17, 1916).
References:
Claremont Manufacturing Company. (1851). NH Register and Farmer’s Almanac. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=rgEXAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA159
Farmer, John & Lyon, G. Parker. (1833). NH Annual Register and US Calendar. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=25EBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA36
Find a Grave. (2011, February 26). Lilian A. Twombly Goodrich. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/66178944/lilian-a-goodrich
Find a Grave. (2022, April 5). Lydia M. Twombly. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/238539115/lydia-m-twombly
Find a Grave. (2020, September 6). Mary Abigail Twombly Hart. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/215294814/mary-abigail-hart
Find a Grave. (2022, April 5). James Meserve Twombly. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/238539223/james-meserve-twombly
Find a Grave. (2022, April 6). Daniel P. Warren. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/238563886/daniel-p-warren
Find a Grave. (2022, April 6). Irene Twombly Warren. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/238563840/irene-warren
NH General Court. (1838). Journal of the House. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=vBhNAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA4
US Department of the Interior. (1851). Official Register of the United States: Containing a List of Officers and Employees in the Civil, Military, and Naval Service. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=Vto9AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA26
US Department of the Interior. (1853). Official Register of the United States: Containing a List of Officers and Employees in the Civil, Military, and Naval Service. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=Yu2Qu1QkBSAC&pg=RA1-PA30
US Department of State. (1831). Register of All Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=bedIAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA283
US Department of State. (1835). Register of All Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=rKmtHouyrugC&pg=RA1-PA20
US Department of State. (1838). Register of All Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=cOhIAQAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA19
US Post Office Department. (1828). United States Official Postal Guide. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=KPsCAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA74
Milton Observer 