By Muriel Bristol | September 1, 2024
Moses Wentworth Shapleigh was born in Lebanon, ME, February 22, 1819, son of Samuel and Eunice (Wentworth) Shapleigh.
Samuel Shapleigh headed a Lebanon, ME, household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 50-59 years [himself], two females aged 50-59 years [Eunice (Wentworth) Shapleigh and another], one male aged 20-29 years [Moses W. Shapleigh], one male aged 15-19 years, one male aged 10-14 years, and one female aged 5-9 years. Three members of his household were engaged in Agriculture. Three members of his household were schoolchildren. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of Elisha Shapleigh and John Courson.
Moses W. Shapleigh married (1st) in Lebanon, ME, September 16, 1841, Miss Mary Esther Hayes. Rev. Joseph Loring performed the ceremony. She was born in Lebanon, ME, April 26, 1821, daughter of Charles and Joanna (Yeaton) Hayes.
(The children of Moses W. and Mary E. (Hayes) Shapleigh were: Eunice W. Shapleigh (1843–1901), and Charles Samuel Shapleigh (1845–1846)).
Mother Eunice (Wentworth) Shapleigh died in Lebanon, ME, February 6, 1843, aged fifty-seven years.
Daughter Eunice Wentworth Shapleigh was born in Lebanon, ME, June 14, 1843. She was a namesake for her recently diseased paternal grandmother, Eunice (Wentworth) Shapleigh.
Son Charles Samuel Shapleigh was born in Lebanon, ME, November 21, 1845. He was a namesake for his maternal grandfather, Charles Hayes, as well as his paternal grandfather, Samuel Shapleigh. He died in Lebanon, March 23, 1846, aged four months, and two days.
Mary E. (Hayes) Shapleigh died in Lebanon, ME, August 1, 1846, aged twenty-five years.
Moses W. Shapleigh married (2nd) in Milton, September 14, 1847, Miss Abbie Jane Drew, he of Lebanon, ME, and she of Milton. Rev. Edward F. Abbott performed the ceremony. She was born in Milton, May 30, 1822, daughter of Stephen and Harriet (Watson) Drew.
MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. MARRIAGES. SHAPLEIGH, Moses W., Esq., Lebanon, Me., to ABBA JANE, eldest daughter of Stephen Drew, M.D., Milton, N.H., Sept. 15 (NEHGS, October 1847).
Abbie J. (Drew) Shapleigh died in Lebanon, ME, June 15, 1848, aged twenty-six years.
Father Samuel Shapleigh died in West Lebanon, October 11, 1848, aged sixty-four years.
Moses W. Shapleigh married (3rd) in New Hampton, NH, May 14, 1850, Emeline Maria Perkins. She was born in New Hampton, NH, April 2, 1830, daughter of Rev. Thomas and Rebecca (Pease) Perkins. (Emeline M. Perkins of New Hampton, NH, was a language student at the Smithville Seminary in North Scituate, RI, in 1847. Smithville was a Freewill Baptist institution and her father was a Freewill Baptist minister).
(The children of Moses W. and Emeline M. (Perkins) Shapleigh were: Lillie Shapleigh (1856–1856)).
Moses W. Wentworth was an incorporator of the Lebanon Academy in Lebanon, ME, when it was incorporated by the ME Legislature, August 24, 1850. (See also the later Milton Classical Institute (1867-c1889)).
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Legislature assembled, as follows: SECT. 1. Nathaniel Lord, Thomas M. Wentworth, James Stanton, Isaac Copp, James K. Lord, William Wentworth, Timothy L. Kimball, Tilley H. Ricker, Samuel W. Jones, Charles Shapleigh, David B. Cowell, Daniel W. Horn, Elihu Hayes, junior, Frederick Dixon, Levi Cowell, Ivory Fall, Moses W. Shapleigh, Eli B. Lord, James B. Stanton, and Reuben H. Copp, their associates and successors are constituted a body politic and corporate by the name of trustees of Lebanon Academy; and by that name shall have power to prosecute and defend suits at law; to have and use a common seal and change the same at pleasure; to hold for the objects of their association the property now in their possession; and,, for the same objects, to take and hold, by gift, grant, devise, bequest or otherwise, any estate real or personal annual income of which shall not exceed two thousand dollars (ME Secretary of State, 1850).
Daughter Lillie Shapleigh was born in Milton, in 1856; and she died in Milton, in 1856.
The Milton Selectmen of 1860 were C.H. Goodwin, Jos. Plumer, and M.W. Shapleigh.
M.W. Shapleigh, a carpenter, aged forty-one years (b. ME), headed a Milton household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Emma M. [(Perkins)] Shapleigh, aged thirty years (b. ME), and Eunice W. Shapleigh, aged seventeen years (b. ME). M.W. Shapleigh had real estate valued at $2,000 and personal estate valued at $500. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of B.E. Witham, a laborer, aged thirty-four years (b. NH), and George A. Gilmore, a shoemaker, aged twenty-nine years (b. MA).
The Milton Selectmen of 1861 were Jos. Plumer, M.W. Shapleigh, and Jos. Cook.
Moses W. Shapleigh of New Hampton, NH, paid $1 in U.S. Excise Tax for his carriage, which was valued at $75, in May 1863.
Moses W. Shapley, a carpenter, aged forty-four years, registered for the Class II Civil War military draft in New Hampton, NH, in June 1863.
Moses W. Shapleigh of Holderness, NH, paid $1 in U.S. Excise Tax for his carriage, which was valued at $75, in August 1865.
The last will of Thomas Perkins of New Hampton, NH, husbandman, included a bequest of $25 to his ” … daughter Emeline M. Shapleigh, wife of Moses W. Shapleigh.” She and her one of her sisters, Esther S. Smith, were also to divide any furniture not wanted or needed by their mother (Belknap County Probate, 13:337).
Moses W. Shapleigh of “Holderness in New Hampton,” NH, paid $1 in U.S. Excise Tax for his carriage, in 1866.
Moses W. Shapleigh, a farmer, aged fifty years (b. ME), headed a New Hampton (“Ashland P.O.”), NH, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Emeline M. [(Perkins)] Shapleigh, keeping house, aged forty years (b. NH), Eunice W. Shapleigh, a school teacher, aged twenty-six years (b. ME), and George Russell, a farmer laborer, aged nineteen years (b. NH). Moses W. Shapleigh had real estate valued at $2,500 and personal estate valued at $1,000.
New Hampton, NH, sent Moses W. Shapleigh to Concord, NH, as its NH State Representative for the 1873-74 biennium.
Daughter Eunice W. Shapleigh married in Ashland, NH, December 22, 1874, Rodney Lucien Smith, she of New Hampton, NH, and he of Chicago, IL. Rev. Thomas Lyne performed the ceremony. Smith was born in New Hampton, NH, November 25, 1849, son of John C. and Amanda (Cox) Smith.
Moses W. Shapleigh, a carpenter, aged sixty years (b, ME), headed an Ashland, NH, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Emeline M. [(Perkins)] Shapleigh, keeping house, aged fifty years (b. NH), and his boarders, Alvah P. Huckins, works in paper mill, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), and Emma M. Fellows, a school teacher, aged twenty years (b. NH).
Rodney L. Smith, a conductor, aged thirty years (b. NH), headed an Austin, IL, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Eunice W. [(Shapleigh)] Smith, keeping house, aged thirty years (b. ME).
Bates College Notes. During the past year another new scholarship, the 42d, has been endowed by Mrs. Moses W. Shapleigh, of Ashland, N.H., in memory of her father, Rev. Thomas Perkins (Republican Journal (Belfast, ME), December 1, 1892).
Moses W. Shapleigh was one of eleven Trustees of the Ashland Savings Bank in 1892. He was also one of three Trustees serving on the bank’s Investment Committee (NH Board of Bank Commissioners, 1892).
Moses W. Shapleigh was President of the Ashland Savings Bank in 1895. He also served as one of eleven Trustees and one of three Trustees serving on the bank’s Investment Committee (NH Board of Bank Commissioners, 1895).
Moses W. Shapleigh was President of the Ashland Savings Bank in 1896. He also served as one of seven Trustees and one of three Trustees serving on the bank’s Investment Committee (NH Board of Bank Commissioners, 1896).
HOLDERNESS. Mrs. Rodney Smith and Master Smith of Chicago are at Moses W. Shapleigh’s for a few weeks (Boston Globe, July 18, 1897).
Moses W. Shapleigh was a member of the Board of Education in Ashland, NH, in 1897.
ASHLAND – Wm. F. Harris, Hiram Hodgdon, John E. Morrison, Moses W. Shapleigh, David N. Pollard, Elmore E. Clark.
Moses W. Shapleigh, a retiree, aged eighty-one years (b. ME), headed an Ashland, NH, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of fifty years), Emeline M.P. [(Perkins)] Shapleigh, aged seventy years (b. NH), his daughter, Eunice W. [(Shapleigh)] Smith, aged fifty-five years (b. ME), his grandson, George S. Smith, at school, aged eighteen years (b. NH), and his lodgers, Sarah C. Smith, a widow, aged sixty years (b. NH), and Mabel Sargent, housework, aged twenty-two years (b. NH). Moses W. Shapleigh owned their house, free-and-clear. Emeline M.P. Shapleigh was the mother of one child, of whom one was still living. Eunice W. Smith was also the mother of one child, of whom one was still living.
Daughter Eunice W. (Shapleigh) Smith died of shock and heart disease in the home of her father on Highland Street in Ashland, NH, February 8, 1901, aged fifty-five years, seven months, and twenty-four days. She had been ill for a year, and resident in Ashland, NH, for nine months. Her prior residence was Chicago, IL. She was a married housewife. A.R. Garey, M.D., signed the death certificate.
Moses W. Shapleigh died of heart failure in his home on Highland Street in Ashland, NH, November 12, 1901, aged eighty-two years, eight months, and twenty days. He was a married retiree. He had resided on Ashland, NH, for thirty-nine years, i.e., since circa 1862. A.R. Garey, M.D., signed the death certificate.
Moses W. Shapleigh. Moses W. Shapleigh of Ashland, N.H., who died on Nov. 12, aged eighty-two years, was the last of the nine sons of Samuel Shapleigh, late of Lebanon, Me. All the sons lived to manhood and several to an advanced age. Two of the brothers were Richard W., and Samuel Shapleigh, late of Boston. Moses was an industrious and honored citizen in Ashland, where he long resided. He leaves a widow and one grandson (Boston Evening Transcript, November 13, 1901).
Emmer [(Perkins)] Shapleigh, own income, aged eighty years (b. NH), headed an Ashland, NH, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. Her household included her housekeeper, Martha Peace, a housekeeper (private family), aged sixty-two years (b. NH). Emmer Shapleigh owned their house on Highland Street, free-and-clear. She was the mother of two children, of whom two were still living [?]. (Note the spelling of her name “Emma” as “Emmer” as a non-rhotic “Yankee” speaker might pronounce it).
Emeline P. (Perkins) Shapleigh died of oedema of lungs in her home on Highland Street in Ashland, NH, October 10, 1911, aged eighty-one years, six months, and eight days.
DEATHS. SHAPLEIGH – At Ashland, N.H., Oct. 10, Emeline M. Shapleigh, 81 yrs., 6 mos., widow of Moses W. Shapleigh (Boston Evening Transcript, October 13, 1911).
Son-in-law Rodney L. Smith died in Wolbach, NE, May 11, 1927, aged seventy-seven years.
OBITUARY. Rodney L. Smith was born in New-hampton, New-Hampshire, November 25, 1849, and died at his home east of Wolbach at 12:15 p.m., May 11, 1927, aged 77 years, 5 months, and 16 days. He lived on a farm, in New Hampshire until eighteen years of age. Later he lived in Chicago for 34 years, where he was employed a railway conductor on the Chicago & Northwestern. In 1872 he was married to Eunice W. Shapleigh at Ashland, New Hampshire. To this union was born one child, George, who still survives. He came to Nebraska about 1892, and after April 1904, permanently located on the farm where he has ever since lived. In 1904 he was married to Miss H. Janette Sullivan in Kansas City. He leaves to mourn his loss, his wife; one son, George of Wolbach; one sister, Mrs. Etta Winslow, Chicago; and one granddaughter (Wolbach Messenger (Wolbach, NE), May 19, 1927).
References:
Find a Grave. (2009, October 15). Abbie Jane Drew Shapleigh. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/43114896/abbie-jane-shapleigh
Find a Grave. (2009, October 15). Charles S. Shapleigh. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/43114915/charles-s-shapleigh
Find a Grave. (2009, October 15). Emeline Maria Perkins Shapleigh. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/43114905/emeline-maria-shapleigh
Find a Grave. (2009, October 15). Lillie P. Shapleigh. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/43114931/lillie-p-shapleigh
Find a Grave. (2009, October 15). Mary Esther Hayes Shapleigh. Retrieved from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43114886/mary-esther-shapleigh
Find a Grave. (2009, October 15). Moses Wentworth Shapleigh. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/43114878/moses-wentworth-shapleigh
Find a Grave. (2015, May 16). Samuel Shapleigh. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/146587002/samuel-shapleigh
Find a Grave. (). George Shapleigh Smith. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/78630271/george-shapleigh-smith
Find a Grave. (2022, July 1). Rodney Lucien Smith. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/241150131/rodney-lucien-smith
ME Secretary of State. (1850). Acts and Resolved Passed by the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Maine. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=8VJNAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA542
NH Board of Bank Commissioners. (1892). Forty-Sixth Annual Report. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=QM4zAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA12
NH Board of Bank Commissioners. (1895). Fiftieth Annual Report. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=dvZBAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA12
NH Board of Bank Commissioners. (1896). Fifty-First Annual Report. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=zmwbAQAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA12
NH General Court. (1874). Journals of the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the State of New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=OOA3AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA178
Milton Observer 