Author: Muriel Bristol

By Muriel Bristol | September 24, 2023

Enoch W. Plumer was born in Milton, April 4, 1815, son of Joseph [Jr.] and Sarah “Sally” (Brown) Plumer.

Father Joseph Plummer [Jr.] died in Milton, January 3, 1826, aged thirty-nine years.

Sarah [(Brown)] Plumer headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. Her household included one female aged 40-49 years [herself], one male aged 20-29 years, one female aged 20-29 years, one female aged 15-19 years [Caroline Plumer], one male aged 15-19 years [Enoch W. Plumer], two males aged 10-14 years [Bard Plumer and Joseph Plumer], and one female aged 5-9 years [Sarah Plumer]. Her household appeared in the enumeration between those of Levi Jones and Jos. P. Burrows.

Sarah [(Brown)] Plumer headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. Her household included one female aged 50-59 years [herself], five males aged 20-29 years [Enoch W. Plumer, Bard Plumer, and Joseph Plumer, and others], one female aged 20-29 years [Caroline Plumer], and one female aged 15-19 years [Sarah Plumer]. Five members of her household were engaged in Agriculture. Her household appeared in the enumeration between those of Benjamin Roberts and Levi Jones.

Enoch W. Plumer married, June 16, 1840, Orinda Ayers. She was born in Wakefield, NH, in 1817, daughter of Joseph and Olive R. “Ruth” (Nudd) Ayers.

(The known children of Enoch W. and Orinda (Ayers) Plumer were: John Tyler Plumer (1841–1868), Joseph Emmons Plumer (1842–1899), Mary Baker Plumer (1844–1939), Bard Burge Plummer (1846–1919), Sarah Plumer (1848–1931), Fanny W. Plumer (1851–1933), and Susan Plumer (1854–1878).

Enoch W. Plummer, son of Joseph and Sally Brown (Plummer), was born on the old home place in 1815. He followed farming in a general way and erected the barn now standing on the Plummer farm. He lived to reach the age of eighty-one years, dying in 1896; his wife had died the previous year, and both were buried in the cemetery on Plummer Ridge. Her maiden name was Orinda Ayers and their marriage was blessed with seven children: John T., Joseph E., May B., Bard B., Sarah, Fannie W., and Susan. Mr. Plummer was a Republican in politics, and at one time served as representative of the town of Milton. In addition to farming, he also was of a half interest in a saw mill, his partner being Lewis Plummer. He was a devout christian, a member of the Congregational church, and for more than forty years was a deacon in the church, death terminating that tenure (Scales, 1914).

Son John Tyler Plumer was born in Milton, June 3, 1841. Son Joseph Emmons Plumer was born in Milton, October 5, 1842.

Col. James J. Chesley commanded the Thirty-Third NH Militia Regiment in 1843. His staff included Lt. Col. Enoch W. Plumer; Maj. Jonathan W. Sanborn; Adjutant Leonard S. Nute of Alton, NH; and Quartermaster Moses H. Chesley of East Alton, NH (NH Adjutant General, 1843).

Daughter Mary B. Plumer was born in Milton, September 8, 1844.

Col. Enoch W. Plumer commanded the Thirty-Third NH Militia Regiment in 1844. His staff included Lt. Col. Jonathan W. Sanborn; Maj. John Churchill; Adjutant Leonard S. Nute of Alton, NH; and Quartermaster Moses H. Chesley of East Alton, NH (McFarland & Jenks, 1845).

Col. Enoch W. Plumer commanded the Thirty-Third NH Militia Regiment in 1845. His staff included Lt. Col. Jonathan W. Sanborn; Maj. John Churchill; Adjutant Leonard S. Nute of Alton, NH; and Quartermaster Moses H. Chesley of East Alton, NH (Farmer & Lyon, 1844).

Col. Enoch W. Plumer of Milton commanded the Thirty-Third NH Militia Regiment in 1846. His staff included Lt. Col. Jonathan W. Sanborn; Maj. Cyrus K. Sanborn of Brookfield, NH; Adjutant Isaac N. Fellows of Wakefield, NH; and Quartermaster Moses H. Chesley of East Alton, NH (Claremont Manufacturing Co., 1846).

Son Bard Burge Plummer was born in Milton, in 1846.

Father-in-law Joseph Ayers died in Wakefield, NH, August 26, 1847.

Daughter Sarah Plumer was born in Milton, in 1848.

Enoch Plumer, a farmer, aged thirty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Orinda [(Ayers)] Plumer, aged thirty-three years (b. NH), John T. Plumer, aged eight years (b. NH), Joseph E. Plumer, aged seven years (b. NH), Mary B. Plumer, aged five years (b. NH), Beard Plumer, and four years (b. NH), Sarah Plumer, aged two years (b. NH), Sarah [(Brown)] Plumer, aged sixty-six years (b. NH), and Sarah Plumer, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH). Enoch Plumer had real estate valued at $6,000. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of David Wallingford, a farmer, aged forty-nine years (b. NH), and David D.A. Robinson, a shoemaker, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH).

Mother-in-law Olive Ruth (Nudd) Ayers died in Wakefield, NH, September 20, 1852.

Daughter Susan Plummer was born in Milton, April 27, 1854.

The Republican party was founded in 1854 by anti-slavery activists who opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act of that year.

In his latter years he [Enoch W. Plummer] supported the Republican party in politics (Biographical Review, 1897).

The NH State Agricultural Society awarded Enoch W. Plumer of Milton a $15 second-place prize for his stallion of seven years, Young Messenger, in November 1858 (NH Agricultural Society, 1860).

E.W. Plumer, a farmer, aged forty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Orinda [(Ayers)] Plumer, aged forty-two years (b. NH), John T. Plumer, aged nineteen years (b. NH), Joseph E. Plumer, aged seventeen years (b. NH), Mary B. Plumer, aged fifteen years (b. NH), Bard B. Plumer, aged fourteen years (b. NH), Sarah Plumer, aged twelve years (b. NH), Fanny W. Plumer, aged nine years (b. NH), Susan Plumer, aged six years (b. NH), Sarah [(Brown)] Plumer, aged seventy-five years (b. NH), Caroline Wentworth, aged forty-six years (b. NH), and Thomas Wentworth, aged twenty years (b. NH). Enoch Plumer had real estate valued at $6,000 and personal estate valued at $1,500. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Joseph Plumer, a farmer, aged forty years (b. NH), and Charles Jones, a farmer, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH).

Milton sent Enoch W. Plummer and Charles A. Varney to Concord, NH, as its NH State Representatives for the 1861-62 biennium. Rep. Plumer of Milton was assigned the Committee on Division of Towns. (Rep. Varney of Milton was assigned the Committee on Education).

On Wednesday, June 11, 1861, Rep. George F. Bartlett (1826-1897) of Milford, NH, moved that a ten-member committee be appointed to seek one or more House chaplains. As a result, Rep. Plumer of Milton was appointed as the Strafford County member.

Resolved, That a committee of ten, one from each county, be appointed by the chair; to select some suitable clergyman to officiate as chaplain of the Legislature during the present session; and that prayer be offered each morning of the session, in the Representatives Hall, immediately preceding the forenoon session; and that the Governor and Council, and the Senate, be invited to attend.
Ordered, That Messrs. Bartlett of Milford, Nason of Hampton Falls, Plumer of Milton, Taylor of Sanbornton, Milliken of Effingham, Coffin of Concord, Edwards of Keene, Gallup of Plainfield, Tenney of Hanover, and Abbott of Northumberland, be said committee.

(His Plumer surname appeared in both forms – Plumer and Plummer – in House journals. This variance originated probably in eighteenth and early nineteenth century orthography. Duplicate letters might be represented as a single letter with a stroke over it, indicating that the single letter written stood for two identical paired letters).

On Tuesday, June 25, 1861, Rep. Lyman D. Stevens (1821-1909) of Concord, NH, moved that a bill regarding the Concord & Portsmouth Railroad be postponed to the next legislative session. Reps. Plumer and Varney voted with the majority of 210 representatives [71.2%] that opposed postponement, rather than with the minority of 85 representatives [28.8%] that favored postponement.

On Tuesday, July 2, 1861, the House resumed its consideration of “An act for remodeling the militia” (the Civil War having broken out only three months before). Democrat Rep. Harry Bingham (1821-1900) of Littleton, NH, moved that the bill be amended to insert the word “white” just before the word “able-bodied.” Reps. Plumer and Varney voted with the majority of 154 representatives [57.0%] that opposed the amendment language, rather than with the minority of 116 representatives [43.0%] that favored it.

In the second year of his two-year biennium, Rep. Plumer was assigned to the Committee on Printers’ Accounts. (Rep. Varney was assigned to the Committee on Towns and Parishes).

On Tuesday, June 24, 1862, the House voted on an “Act providing for a system of public-school supervision.” Rep. Plumer voted with the minority of 112 representatives [39.0%] that voted in favor, rather than with the majority of 175 representatives [61.0%] that voted against it. (Rep. Varney may have been absent that day, as he did not vote).

On Monday, June 30, 1862, the House considered whether or not Isaac Emerson (1825-1885) of Windham, NH, had a right to a House seat. (The remonstrance of R.B. Jackson and others asserted that he should not be seated). Rep. Emerson himself moved that the Committee on the Judiciary should investigate and report on the matter:

Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to report, for the satisfaction of the “contestants” having the merits of this case in view, first, What constitutes a legal ballot? second, What votes should be counted by the moderator in determining the majority and the result of an election?

The House Committee on the Judiciary returned their opinion that Mr. Emerson should not be seated, as the necessary threshold of 69 votes would have been slightly higher if the six votes for “Charles Butrick” had been counted with those received for “Charles E. Butrick.”

At the annual town-meeting in Windham, in March last, after ten or more ballotings for representative, Isaac Emerson was declared elected. The whole number of votes, as declared by the moderator on that ballot, was one hundred and thirty-six (136); necessary to a choice, sixty-nine (69); and Isaac Emerson, having sixty-nine votes, was declared elected. On that ballot there was put into the ballot-box as votes, one piece of paper containing the name of an animal, another containing the name of a woman, and some six others on which was the name of Charles Butrick; but that there was one by the name of Charles E. Butrick. It was also admitted that some of those persons who voted for Charles Butrick intended to vote for Charles E. Butrick. The moderator excluded all these names from the ballots, and then declared the result aforesaid. The remonstrants claim that at least those pieces of paper containing the name of Charles Butrick should be counted as ballots, while the sitting member claims that they should not be so received, and claims that they were rightfully excluded. … The committee are also of the opinion that tickets containing the name of an animal, or inanimate things, or a woman, ought to be rejected in such computation of the whole number of ballots, as not being within the spirit of the statute defining that term, and as trifling with the right of suffrage, and tending to bring it into ridicule and disgrace. …

Rep. Plumer voted with the 133 representatives [74.7%] that went against the committee report and voted to seat Mr. Emerson, rather than with the 45 [25.3%] that agreed with the committee report and voted not to seat him. So, Rep. Emerson was seated.

On Tuesday, July 8, 1862, Rep. Lewis P. Cushman (1824-1904) of Landaff, NH, introduced a resolution whereby House members and staff might forgo two days’ pay and spend that money instead on a soldiers’ hospital.

Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court convened, That the Clerk, in making up the pay-roll of the members and officers of the House of Representatives, be instructed to deduct from the same Saturday and Sunday, July 5 and 6, and that the Governor is hereby authorized to expend the same in furnishing the hospital provided for by the present Legislature for the use of our sick and wounded soldiers.

Rep. Charles W. Woodman (1809-1888) of Dover, NH, moved that the resolution be indefinitely postponed. Reps. Plumer and Varney voted with the majority of 178 representatives [68.5%] that favored postponement, rather than with the 82 representatives [31.5%] that opposed postponement.

Rep. George Holbrook (1830-1927) of Manchester, NH, made an alternate motion:

Resolved, That a committee of one from each county be appointed to solicit a subscription from each member of this House and honorable Senate, the same to be applied to furnishing the hospital for the sick and wounded soldiers. 

(These hospital furnishings votes are somewhat reminiscent of a supposed discussion between one Horatio Bunce and then U.S. Congressman Davy Crockett, probably circa 1829, as collected by Bettina Bien Greaves (of which an audio version may be found in the References)).

E.W. Plumer of Milton paid a $1 tax for his horse carriage (valued at $70), in the U.S. Excise Tax of 1862.

Enoch W. Plummer paid a $10 tax on his stallion, and a $1 tax for his 1-horse carriage (valued at $75), in the U.S. Excise Tax of May 1864. Perhaps the stallion was the same one, Young Messenger, for which he had received a second-place prize in 1858.

Son John T. Plummer married in Boston, MA, January 31, 1867, Armena P. Gilman, he of Union, [Wakefield,] NH, and she of Milton. He was a merchant, aged twenty-five years, and she was aged twenty-three years. Rev. O.T. Walker performed the ceremony. She was born in Wakefield, NH, daughter of Theophilus and Parna [(Dearborn)] Gilman.

Mother Sarah “Sally” (Brown) Plummer died of dropsy in Milton, July 27, 1867, aged eighty-two years. She was a widowed farmer.

Son John Tyler Plumer died June 20, 1868.

Son Joseph Emmons Plummer married in Milton, October 18, 1869, Susan E. [Evyline] Pecker, he of Milton and she of Concord, NH. He was a farmer, aged twenty-seven years, and she was aged thirty years. Rev. James Doldt performed the ceremony. She was born in East Concord, NH, September 6, 1839, daughter of William and Susan D. (Chandler) Pecker.

Enoch W. Plummer, a farmer, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Orinda [(Ayers)] Plummer, keeping house, aged fifty-two years (b. NH), Mary B. Plummer, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), Bard B. Plummer, a farm laborer, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), Sarah Plummer, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), Fanny W. Plummer, aged nineteen years (b. NH), Susan Plummer, aged eleven years (b. NH), and George I. Whitehouse, a farm laborer, aged seventeen years (b. NH). Enoch Plumer had real estate valued at $6,000 and personal estate valued at $4,340. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Joseph Plummer, a farmer, aged fifty years (b. NH), and Charles Jones, a farmer, aged thirty-six years (b. NH).

William Pecker, a farmer, aged sixty-one years (b. NH), headed a Concord, NH, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Susan D. [(Chandler)] Pecker, keeping house (b. NH), aged fifty-nine years, Joseph E. Plummer, a farm laborer, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH), and Susan E. Plummer, a domestic servant, aged thirty years (b. NH). William Pecker had real estate valued at $10,000 and personal estate valued at $1,500. Joseph E. and Susan E. [(Pecker)]] Plummer had been married in the prior September [October].

Daughter Mary B. Plumer married November 10, 1870, Samuel Willard Wallingford. Wallingford was born in Milton, November 27, 1837, son of David and Mary A. (Tasker) Wallingford.

Son Bard Burge Plummer married in Milton, October 15, 1875, Eliza Dixwell Wentworth, both of Milton. He was a farmer, aged twenty-nine years, and she was aged twenty-four years. Rev. James Doldt performed the ceremony. She was born in Jamaica Plain, MA, December 13, 1851, daughter of John J. and Elizabeth (Currant) Wentworth.

Daughter Susan Plummer married in Milton, November 30, 1876, John S. Roberts, both of Milton. He was a shoemaker, aged twenty-eight years, and she was aged twenty-two years. Rev. James Doldt (then of Canterbury, NH) performed the ceremony. Roberts was born in Milton, circa 1848, son of John C. and Lydia J. (Scates) Roberts.

MARRIAGES. ROBERTS-PLUMMER. In Milton, N.H., 29th ult., at the home of the bride’s parents, by Rev. James Doldt, Mr. John P. Roberts and Miss Susie Plummer, daughter of Enoch W. Plummer, both of Milton (Boston Globe, December 7, 1876).

Daughter Susan (Plummer) Roberts died of heart trouble in Farmington, NH, September 12, 1878, aged twenty-four years.

Daughter Sarah Plummer married in Seabrook, NH, May 1, 1878, Frank Enoch Haley, she of Milton and he of Seabrook, NH. He was a clergyman, aged forty-three years, and she was aged thirty years. This was his second marriage. Rev. James Doldt performed the ceremony. Frank E. Haley was born in Tuftonboro, NH, February 20, 1835, son of Enoch and Cynthia (Piper) Haley.

Daughter Frances W. ‘Fanny” Plummer married in Milton, July 11, 1878, John H. Twombly. He was aged twenty-nine years, and she was aged twenty-seven years. Twombly was born in Dover, NH, October 17, 1848, son of John and Charlotte (Drew) Twombly.

Enoch W. Plumer, aged sixty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Orinda [(Ayers)] Plumer, aged sixty-five years (b. NH). They shared a two-family residence with the household of Bard B. Plumer, a farmer, aged thirty-three years (b. NH). Their residence appeared between those of Joseph Plumer, a farmer, aged sixty years (b. NH), and Enoch S. Mason, a farmer, aged thirty-nine years (b. NH).

Samuel W. Wallingford, a farmer, aged forty-two years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Mary B. [(Plummer)] Wallingford, keeping house, aged thirty-six years (b. NH), his mother, Mary A. [(Tasker)] Wallingford, at home, aged seventy-four years (b. NH), his nephew, George W. Wallingford, aged eight years (b. NH), and his niece, Millie M. Wallingford, aged five years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Frank G. Horn, works on shoes, aged thirty-eight years (b. NH), and James A. Wentworth, a farmer, aged forty-two years (b. NH).

Bard B. Plumer, a farmer, aged thirty-three years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Eliza D. Plumer, keeping house, aged twenty-eight years (b. MA), and his children, Lucia C. Plumer, at house, aged three years (b. NH), Fannie W. Plumer, at house, aged one year (b. NH), and Bard B. Plumer, at house, aged seven months (b. NH (October [1879])). They shared a two-family residence with the household of [his father,] Enoch W. Plummer, a farmer, aged sixty-five years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Joseph Plummer, aged sixty years (b. NH) and Enoch S. Mason, a farmer, aged thirty-nine years (b. NH).

Frank Haley, a clergyman, aged forty-five years (b. NH), headed a Seabrook, NH, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included Sarah P. [(Plummer)] Haley, keeping house, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), Mary L. Haley, a milliner, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), Agnes C. Haley, at home, aged sixteen years (b. NH), and Susan P. Haley, aged eight months (b. NH (September)).

William Pecker, a farmer, aged seventy-one years (b. NH), headed a Concord (“Concord East P.O.”), NH, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Susan D. [(Chandler)] Pecker, keeping house, aged sixty-nine years (b. NH), his daughter, Susan E. ((Pecker)] Plummer, at home, aged forty years (b. NH), his son-in-law, Joseph E. Plummer, a farmer, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH), and his boarder, Hattie E. King, a teacher, aged twenty-three years (b. NH).

Widowed son-in-law John S. Roberts married (2nd) in Farmington, NH, December 26, 1883, Ella Belle Pearl, both of Farmington, NH. (He would die of heart valvular disease in Farmington, NH, January 22, 1907, aged fifty-eight years, three months, and fifteen days).

MILTON. Nearly fifty people from Farmington, including a full chorus of singers, wended their way “Miltonwards” Wednesday evening, by the light of the genial moon – somewhat clouded – to witness and take part in an entertainment and concert gotten up by the good ladies of the Congregational Society for the benefit of their church. The evening was all one could wish and the drive delightful. On reaching this one of the most beautiful villages in this section, the party was most hospitably entertained by their Milton friends, prominent among whom were the genial Mr. and Mrs. Amos Roberts, Rev. Mr. Haley the pastor, and his estimable lady, Mrs. Annie M. Varney, the two Mrs. Pinkhams, Mrs. Willard Wallingford, the venerable deacon Plummer of the Ridge, and a host of others whose names have slipped our memory. A glance at the interior of the spacious and handsomely decorated church gave evidence of a large assembly, there being some two hundred and fifty present. Want of space and time forbid of more than mere mention of the following program that was excellence in itself, and never have we seen the rendering excelled. … (Farmington News, June 11, 1886).

Orinda (Ayers) Plumer died of a liver abscess in Milton, April 18, 1895, aged seventy-seven years, six months, and twelve days. M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the death certificate.

MILTON. The funeral of Mrs. Enoch Plumer occurred Saturday afternoon. She leaves a husband and five children (Farmington News, [Friday,] April 26, 1895).

Enoch W. Plumer died of cirrhosis of the liver in Milton, June 18, 1896, aged eighty-one years, two months, and fourteen days. M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the death certificate.

RECENT DEATHS. … Mr. Enoch W. Plummer, one of the oldest citizens of Milton, N.H., died Thursday. He was born in the town April 4, 1813. He was identified with the Volunteer Militia, and held the commission of colonel for several years. He filled many town offices, representing the town in the New Hampshire Legislature. For over forty years he was a deacon of the Congregationalist Church, and at the date of his death the oldest Church member (Boston Evening Transcript, June 20, 1896).

HERE AND THERE. Mr. and Mrs. John S. Roberts attended on Sunday the funeral of deacon Enoch W. Plumer of Milton, who was a citizen truly well known (Farmington News, [Friday,] June 26, 1896).

ENOCH W. PLUMMER. Enoch W. Plummer died June 18. He was born in Milton April 4, 1815, and had maintained a continuous residence there. He was identified with the volunteer militia, and held the commission of colonel for several years. He filled many town offices, representing the town in the New Hampshire legislature. For over forty years he was a deacon of the Congregational church, and at the date of his death the oldest church member (Granite Monthly, July 1896).

REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS. LEBANON. – Jan. 6. Mary B. Wallingford, et al., of Milton, N.H., to Bard B. Plummer, of same place, real estate in Lebanon for $500. Jan 28. Frances W. Twombly, et al., of Milton, N.H., to Bard B. Plummer, of same place, real estate in Lebanon for $500 (Biddeford-Saco Journal (Biddeford, ME), February 10, 1897).

Son Joseph E. Plummer died of pulmonary phthisis in Concord, NH, January 5, 1899, aged fifty-six years, three months. He was a farmer. G.P. Connor, M.D., signed the death certificate.

Son-in-law Samuel W. Wallingford died of pyemia (following a pulmonary abscess) in Milton, May 25, 1899, aged sixty-one years, five months, and twenty-eight years. M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the death certificate.

Armine [(Gilman)] Plummer, a nurse, aged forty-seven years, was one of seven lodgers in the Rochester, NH, household of Charles Barker, a landlord, aged fifty years (b. MA), at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. Charles Baker resided on South Main Street.

Mary B. [(Plummer)] Wallingford, a farmer, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. Her household included her brother-in-law, John H. Twombly, a physician (retired), aged fifty-one years (b. NH), and her sister (and his wife of twenty years), Frances W. [(Plummer)] Twombly, aged forty-nine years (b. NH). Mary B. Wallingford owned their farm, free-and-clear. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Susan F. Horn, a widow, aged fifty-six years (b. NH), and George F. Henderson, a farmer, aged fifty-six years (b. ME).

Bard B. Plummer, a farmer, aged fifty-three years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-four years), Eliza D. Plummer, aged fifty-one years (b. MA), his children, Lucia C. Plummer, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), Fannie W. Plummer, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), Bard B. Plummer, Jr., aged twenty years (b. NH), and Orinda Plummer, at school, aged twelve years (b. NH), and his boarder, Christie L. Jones, a farm laborer, aged fifty-eight years (b. NH). Bard B. Plummer owned their farm, free-and-clear. Eliza D. Plummer was the mother of four children, of whom four were still living. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Fred P. Jones, a farmer, aged forty years (b. NH), and Joseph Plummer, a farmer, aged eighty years (b. NH).

Frank Haley, a retired clergyman, aged sixty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Sarah [(Plummer)] Haley, aged fifty-two years (b. NH), his daughter, Susan P. Haley, an accountant, aged twenty years (b. NH), and his sister-in-law, Susan E. [(Pecker)] Plummer, aged sixty years (b. NH).

Daughter-in-law Armine P. (Gilman) Plummer died of uterine cancer at 6 Main Street in Rochester, NH, February 15, 1902, aged fifty-eight years, five months. She was a widowed nurse, who had been resident in Rochester, NH, for “about” fourteen years, i.e., since circa 1887, with her previous residence having been in Milton. John H. Neal, M.D., signed the death certificate.

Frank Haley died of Bright’s Disease in Milton, NH, March 28, 1904, aged sixty-nine years, one month, and nine days. He had resided in Milton for nineteen years, i.e., since circa 1885, with his previous residence having been in Boscawen, NH. He was a clergyman. M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the death certificate.

DEATHS. HALEY. In Milton, N.H., March 28, Rev. Frank Haley, aged 69. He graduated from Dartmouth Medical in 1857, and practiced medicine for some years, then entered Andover Seminary where he graduated and has preached since in Enfield and Milton, N.H., and Concord, Mass., and was in charge of a home missionary church and school in Macon, Ga. Although hampered by ill health all his life, he did important work wherever he was along educational lines and in the pulpit (Congregationalist and Christian World, May 21, 1904).

MILTON, N.H. Mrs. Mary Wallingford with a party of friends went Friday on a trip to the White mountains returning home Tuesday night. In spite of the very inclement weather they reported a most enjoyable time (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), September 29, 1905).

MILTON, N.H. Mrs. Mary B. Wallingford went to Wolfeboro recently, making the trip in a touring car. … Mrs. Wallingford entertained a party of nine ladies from Dover Tuesday of last week. … Miss Kate Gardner Jackson of Westwood, Mass., is spending a few weeks at Mrs. Mary B. Wallingford’s on the Ridge (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), August 9, 1907).

MILTON. Mrs. Mary B. Wallingford and Rev. and Mrs. Dickey attended the Washington birthday meeting of the Congregational club last Saturday at Dover (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), March 6, 1908).

Mary B. [(Plummer)] Wallingford, a general farm farmer, aged sixty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. Her household included her brother-in-law, John H. Twombly, a home farm keeper, aged sixty-one years (b. NH), her sister (and his wife of thirty-one years), Fannie W. [(Plummer)] Twombly, aged fifty-nine years (b. NH), and her sister-in-law, Susan [(Pecker)] Plummer, aged seventy years (b. NH). Mary B. Wallingford owned their farm, free-and-clear.

Bard B. Plummer, a general farm farmer, aged sixty-three years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Eliza D. Plummer, aged fifty-eight years (b. MA), his son, Bard B. Plummer, Jr., a home farm farmer, aged thirty years (b. NH), his daughter-in-law, Ruth L. Plummer, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), his daughter, Orinda Plummer, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), his granddaughter, Elizabeth Plummer, aged one year (b. NH), his sister-in-law, Fannie Littlefield, aged sixty-two years (b. MA), his nephew, Roscoe Littlefield, aged thirty-four years (b. CA), and his servant, John M. Smith, a general farm laborer, aged twenty-two years (b. VT).

Sarah P. [(Plummer)] Haley, a widow, aged forty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. Her household included her daughter, Susan P. Haley, aged thirty years (b. NH). Sarah P. Haley owned their house, free-and-clear.

KENNEBUNK. Miss Mary Goodwin, assistant in the Kennebunk Savings Bank, is passing her annual vacation at the Mary Wallingford Farm, Milton, N.H. (Portland Sunday Telegram, September 21, 1919).

Son Bard B. Plummer died of lobar pneumonia on Plummer’s Ridge in Milton, October 22, 1919, aged seventy-three years, four months, and four days. James J. Buckley, M.D., signed the death certificate.

Mary B. [(Plummer)] Wallingford, a widow, aged seventy-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. Her household included her brother-in-law, John H. Twombly, a farmer, aged seventy-one years (b. NH), her sister, Frances W. [(Plummer)] Twombly, aged sixty-eight years (b. NH), and her sister-in-law, Susan E. [(Pecker)] Plummer, a widow, aged eighty years (b. NH). Mary B. Wallingford owned their farm on the Plummer’s Ridge Road, free-and-clear.

Sarah P. [(Plummer)] Haley, a widow, aged seventy-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. Her household included her daughter, Susan P. Haley, a retail dry goods bookkeeper, aged forty years (b. NH). Sarah P. Haley owned their farm on the Farmington Road, free-and-clear. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of William S. Lougee, a leatherboard superintendent, aged forty-five years (b. NH), and Edwin S. Huse, a high school teacher, aged forty years (b. MA).

Daughter-in-law Susan E. (Pecker) Plummer died of a cerebral hemorrhage at Plummer’s Ridge in Milton, February 29, 1920, aged eighty years, six months. She had resided in Milton for twenty years, i.e., since the death of her husband in 1899, with her previous residence having been in East Concord, NH. John H. Twombly, M.D., signed the death certificate.

Son-in-law John H. Twombly died of arterio-sclerosis in the Masonic Home at 813 Beech Street in Manchester, NH, March 2, 1927, aged seventy-eight years, four months, and thirteen days. He was a retired physician. F.P. Scribner, M.D., signed the death certificate.

DR. JOHN H. TWOMBLY DIES AT DOVER, N.H. DOVER, N.H., March 3 – Dr. John H. Twombly, who died at the Masonic Home in Manchester last evening, was a native of Dover, born Oct. 17, 1848, the son of John and Charlotte (Drew) Twombly. He was a descendant of Ralph Twombly, who came from England and settled at Dover Neck about 1650. On the maternal side he was descendent from Lieut. John Drew of Dover, an officer of the Indian Wars. Dr. Twombly graduated from Dartmouth in 1868 and from the Harvard Medical School in 1872. He first practiced in Brooklyn and later was on the staff of the insane asylum at Kalamazoo, Mich., after which he followed his profession in New Market. He owned a drug store there. He was affiliated with Dover and New Market Masonic bodies, and was the oldest living eminent commander of St. Paul Commandery, K.T., of this city. The body will be brought here tomorrow and will later be interred in Pine Hill Cemetery with Knight Templar Rites (Boston Globe, March 4, 1927).

Orinda P. [(Plummer)] Little, an electrical bookkeeper, aged forty-three years (b. NH), headed a Sharon, MA, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. Her household included her twin sons, William G. Little, aged eight years (b. MA), and Robert A. Little, aged eight years (b. MA), her mother, Eliza D. [(Wentworth)] Plummer, retired, aged seventy-eight years (b. MA), and her sister, Fanny W. [(Plummer)] Littlefield, a private family housekeeper, aged fifty-one years (b. NH). Orinda P. Little owned their house at 11 Crest Road, which was valued at $8,500. They did not have a radio set. All three women were widows, Orinda P. Little having married at thirty-four years of age, Eliza D. Plummer at twenty-three years of age, and Fanny W. Littlefield at forty years of age.

Sarah P. [(Plummer)] Haley, aged eighty-two years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. She owned her house on the Farmington Road, which was valued at $3,500. She did not have a radio set.

Mary B. [(Plummer)] Wallingford, a widow, aged eighty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. Mary B. Wallingford owned her house on Plummer’s Ridge, which was valued at $4,000.

Daughter-in-law Eliza D. (Wentworth) Plummer died in Sharon, MA, March 12, 1931, aged seventy-nine years.

Daughter Sarah (Plummer) Haley died in Milton, NH, April 10, 1931.

LOCAL. Mrs. Sarah Plummer Haley, a life-long resident of Milton, passed away last week. She is survived by a daughter, Miss Susan Haley, who has many friends in Farmington (Farmington News, April 17, 1931).

Daughter Frances W. (Plummer) Twombly died in Dover, NH, March 22, 1933.

Daughter Mary B. (Plumer) Wallingford died of hypertensive heart disease in the Masonic Home in Manchester, NH, September 22, 1939, aged ninety-five years, and fifteen days. She was a widow. She had resided in Manchester for seven years, eight months, i.e., since circa February 1932, with her previous residence having been in Milton.

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References:

Claremont Manufacuring Co. (1846). New Hampshire Register and Farmer’s Almanac. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=5ucWAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA89

Farmer, John, & Lyon, G. Parker. (1844). NH Annual Register, and United States Calendar. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=BJIBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA85

Find a Grave. (2016, February 29). Joseph Ayers. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/158761255/joseph-ayers

Find a Grave. (2022, February 3). Sarah Plumer Haley. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/236457524/sarah-haley

Find a Grave. (2022, February 4). Armine P. Gilman Plumer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/236489175/armine-p-plumer

Find a Grave. (2022, February 4). Bard Burge Plumer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/236476751/bard-burge-plumer

Find a Grave. (2017, October 19). Enoch W. Plumer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/184409140/enoch-w-plumer

Find a Grave. (2022, February 24). John Tyler Plumer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/236487000/john-tyler-plumer

Find a Grave. (2017, March 18). Joseph Emmons Plummer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/177490511/joseph-emmons-plummer

Find a Grave. (2021, November 8). Sally Brown Plumer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/233852675/sally-plumer

Find a Grave. (2012, September 30). Frances W. Plummer Twombly. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/98010643/frances-w-twombly

Find a Grave. (2017, October 17). Mary Baker Plumer Wallingford. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/184359008/mary-baker-wallingford

Granite Monthly. (1896, July). Enoch W. Plummer. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=NfVQAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA62

Greaves. Bettina Bien. (2009, May 7). Davy Crockett: Not Yours to Give. Retrieved from mises.org/library/not-yours-give

McFarland & Jenks. (1845). Osborne’s New Hampshire Register: With an Almanack. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=jMEwAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA83

NH Adjutant General (1843). Report. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=0-1GAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA318

NH General Court. (1861). Journals of the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the State of New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=zt43AAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA146

NH General Court. (1862). Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of New-Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=MQ8tAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA5

NH State Agricultural Society (1860). Transactions of the New Hampshire State Agricultural Society. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=MWo2AQAAIAAJ&pg=PA116

Scales, John. (1914). History of Strafford County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=nGsjAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA872

By Muriel Bristol | September 17, 2023

Continued from Milton Mills Sketch of 1911 – 3

In researching something else, several lengthy articles on Milton Mills were encountered in the Sanford Tribune of October 6, 1911. This fourth and last article dealt with several local merchants and their businesses: John E. Horne (1878-1953), William F. Mills (1838-1913), Joseph A. Maddox (1847-1916), Elijah T. Libby (1846-1918), Daniel Murray (1858-1917), Nicholas L. Mucci (1869-1966), and Mott L. Archibald (1874-1953).

(This new information may require some minor revisions or additions to some earlier Observer articles).

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J.E. HORNE. Clothing and Men’s Furnishings. The store conducted by John E. Horne is in keeping with the high-class character of the community in which he is located. Mr. Horne is also a man of the character that is typical of the section – fair and square in his dealings with the public and social qualities that add to his business popularity. He first went to Milton Mills in the spring of 1900 as manager for F. Merrifield who then established a store there in connection with his Springvale business. In less than a year Mr. Horne bought out the business and has conducted it since and has been very successful. When the business was first started the Berry block was divided into two stores. Six years ago the demands for room to accommodate the increasing trade became so insistent that Mr. Horne was obliged to hire the whole space.
The two stores were made one and now the room is hardly sufficient.
Two years ago, a stock of boots and shoes was added and a very good trade in that line has resulted.
Three years ago Mr. Horne, in company with Forrest L. Marsh, established a grain and feed store. That is located in the Rines block.

WILLIAM F. MILLS. Livery and Sale Stable. Mr. William F. Mills is a native of Milton and has always been interested in horses but did not go into the livery business until 1905. He then bought the Platt place on Main Street which he repaired and put into proper shape for a home and the business he then decided to establish. He formerly lived on a farm not far from the mills. He cultivated it successfully for twenty-two years.
Mr. Mills has a clean well-kept stable and the horses are of a superior class averaging above the average for livery stock. He has six or more horses for letting. Mr. Mills had reared some colts that have sold for high prices. Sybil, by Francisco, was sold for a large sum five years ago. Mr. Mills is the right kind of a man to own and handle horses for he recognizes the fact that they are sentient and intelligent creatures responding to like qualities in man when given the chance.
As Mr. Mills is a good horseman, so is he a good citizen and an upright man. He is held in high regard by his fellow citizens. He has served the town two terms as a selectman.

J.A. MADDOX & SON. Grocers. Central square in Milton Mills has been greatly improved in looks by the establishment of the new grocery store by J.A. Maddox & Son, and the village benefitted by the advent of a new and enterprising store. J.A. Maddox & Son conduct a wholesale and retail grocery business at South Berwick where Mr. Maddox, senior, established the business 30 years ago. Albert S., the junior member, was admitted to the firm twelve years ago. The business done there is one of the largest of the kind in York county, and the members of the firm are among the strongest and best citizens of the place. Mr. J.A. Maddox has served the town as selectman and in other capacities and is successful in the conduct of what ever business he is charged with – whether private or public.
The business was established in Milton Mills about a year and a half ago and because of the character of the firm and the splendid stock of goods carried the store has become popular. The store formerly occupied by Freeman Loud, who was burned out, and owned by Ira Miller was rebuilt and newly fitted for the use of this firm and it is only saying what is echoed throughout the village to say that no more attractive store has ever been conducted there. It is large, being about 75 feet long and thirty feet wide, high posted and well lighted by large plate glass windows. Mr. Maddox and his son are both well known in Milton Mills, the f0rmer having been born in Newfield and a resident of Shapleigh at a later period. Alfred was born in the latter town. Before going to South Berwick they were well known throughout this section.
In addition to a line of groceries the firm deals in crockery and kitchen utensils and also carry a fine line of confectionery. A special feature is made of high grade chocolates and bonbons. The store and local business is in charge of Mr. Charles A. Langley, who has been in the firm’s employ at South Berwick for four years. Mr. Langley is assisted by his wife and their genial and obliging ways add much to the popularity of the store. Mr. Langley is a native of Shapleigh and was known to the people in Milton Mills before becoming a resident.
Recently the firm has established another store at Union. This business is in charge of Geo. W. Grant.

ELIJAH T. LIBBY. Postmaster. Elijah T. Libby, one of the men well worth knowing in Milton Mills, is the postmaster. He is a native of Limerick but has lived in Milton for thirty-eight years and has been postmaster for twenty years, in all. He is now serving his fifth term. He was first appointed by President Harrison. During the four years that President Cleveland was in, Mr. Libby did not have the office but upon the return of the Republicans to power he was again appointed and has held the position ever since.
In the anniversary year of Milton Mr. Libby was town treasurer. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Grange. He has been at times engaged in the jewelry and printing business but his health is not equal to the demands of such trades. In connection with the office a few articles of merchandise are sold and in the summer time he conducts an ice cream business. Mr. C.L. Stevens is assistant postmaster.

DANIEL MURRAY. Hardware and Plumbing. Mr. Daniel Murray has been in the hardware business for thirty-six years. He occupies one of the largest stores in Milton Mills, it being seventy-five feet long and twenty-five wide. The store is filled with a variety of goods, hardware and paints being a feature of the stock. Tinware and kitchen utensils perhaps are given as much space as any particular line of goods. The Glenwood stoves are always kept in stock. In addition to the retail business which is largely looked after by Miss Florence Murray, Mr. Murray carries on a large plumbing and jobbing business. He has a shop in the rear of the store, where small jobs are attended to. His outside work consists of all kinds of work that comes under the head of plumbing and steam fitting and furnace work. He has become expert in his line and is called upon from surrounding places.
During the second Cleveland administration the post office was in Mr. Murray’s store. J.W. Murray was postmaster and Mr. Daniel Murray was assistant. Among the men of character and high social and business standing, Mr. Murray ranks as a leader and is held in the highest esteem to Milton Mills and began business for himself and has been successful.

N. MUCCI. Fancy Groceries, Fruit. One of the first signs of modern village, so far as business is concerned, that greets the eye of the stranger approaching from the east, is the fine display of fruit and fancy groceries in the store of N. Mucci. As may be inferred from the name Mr. Mucci is a native of the sunny clime where fruit forms a large part of the food of the people and has inherited the natural aptitude of the Italians for the appetizing display of such products. But the fruit business is only an incident in the trade of this store. A full line of staple groceries is kept as well as the best of confectionery. The ice cream business is an important feature, particularly in the summer. He not only has a cosy little room where the delicacy is served by the plate, but he is prepared at all times to serve the public with large quantities. He supplies families and parties and among the summer visitors in the surrounding sections trade is large. A soda fountain operates throughout the year.
Mr. Mucci came to America thirteen years ago and for a few months worked with his brother-in-law, F. Broggi, at Sanford. He then went to Milton Mills and began business for himself and had been successful. Mr. Mucci prides himself on always keeping his stock complete and in prime condition. A full stock of tobacco and cigars is kept, too. Mr. Mucci and his wife are pleasant persons to meet and have become as interested in the affairs of the town as though natives are not classified as “foreigners.”

M.L. ARCHIBALD. Real Estate; Lumber. Mr. M.L. Archibald is one of the best known men in Strafford and York Counties. For the last seven years his headquarters have been at Milton Mills. He lives at the Central house but has a legal residence on the Acton side. He is a dealer in native and western horses and sells valuable animals in this section. He has special shipments of western horses and is prepared to furnish animals of what ever kind may be required. Having been familiar with equine stock from youth, his knowledge enables him to select horses suitable to the purpose for which they are to be used and to the person who is to use them.
He is extensively interested in real estate and timber. He is buying and selling timber lands all the time and sells farm property and builds houses for sale. HIs varied interests oblige him to be away from Milton Mills part of the time. Anyone wishing to have an interview with him or desiring any property that he has for sale will find it advisable to write to him at Milton Mills. Mr. Archibald is a man whose business record for many years has established him in the confidence of his patrons, and while a man not much given to talking, it is felt that what he says concerning any business deal needs no discount.
He is a native of Acton and has always been connected with affairs in this section, but for several years was in the eastern part of the state. He has been permanently located at Milton Mills since 1903.

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This concludes the Sanford Tribune’s Milton Mills articles of October 6, 1911.

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Find a Grave. (2013, July 31). Mott L. Archibald. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114726309/mott-l-archibald

Find a Grave. (2012, November 27). Frank Broggi. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/101348468/frank-broggi

Find a Grave. (2013, August 3). John Everard Horne. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114788057/john-everard-horne

Find a Grave. (2021, April 4). Charles Agustus Langley. Retrieved fromwww.findagrave.com/memorial/225305049/charles-agustus-langley

Find a Grave. 2013, August 14). Elijah T. Libby. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115423048/elijah-t-libby

Find a Grave. (2013, December 20). Albert S. Maddox. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/121964473/albert-s-maddox

Find a Grave. (2012, May 17). Joseph A. Maddox. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/90285175/joseph-a.-maddox

Find a Grave. (2012, February 27). Everett Franklin Merrifield. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/85847682/everett-franklin-merrifield

Find a Grave. (2013, July 13). William F. Mills. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114681781/william-f-mills

Find a Grave. (2o13, July 31). Daniel Murray. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114681970/daniel-murray

Find a Grave. (2013, August 15). Charles L. Stevens. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115512774/charles-l-stevens

By Muriel Bristol | September 10, 2023

James Berry was born in Wakefield, NH, in 1805, son of James F. and Betsy (Pollard) Berry.

James Berry married in Milton, in 1835, Eliza G. Jewett. She was born in Milton, in 1811, daughter of Nathaniel and Nancy J. (Rogers) Jewett.

(The known children of James and Eliza G. (Jewett) Berry were: Mary Augusta Berry (1835–1922), Charles Jewett Berry (1837–1933), Nathaniel J. Berry (1842–1880), Eliza E. Berry (1843–1843), Nellie Clara Berry (1844–1938), and Eliza G. Berry (1848–1850)).

Daughter Mary Augusta Berry was born in Milton, in 1835. Son Charles Jewett Berry was born in Milton, in 1837.

Stephen Watson of Acton, ME, sold 14 of 24 days [58.3%] use of the “Watson privilege” at a sawmill on the Salmon Fall River to James Berry, for $1,000, May 7, 1839 (Strafford County Deeds, 182:143).

Milton sent James Berry to Concord, NH, as its NH State Representative, for the 1839-40 biennium. (There was also a Rep. Berry of Greenland, NH).

On Friday, July 5, 1839, Rep. Berry of Milton voted with the 101 representatives [51.3%] that voted in favor of “An act empowering the town of Concord to purchase and hold stock in the Concord Rail Road Corporation.” Another 96 representatives [48.7%] voted against the act.

Rep Berry of Milton voted with the 113 representatives [56.2%] that opposed “an act to abolish imprisonment for debt.” Another 88 representatives [43.8%] voted in favor of abolishing imprisonment for debt.

Rep. Albert Baker of Hillsborough, NH, proposed a set of five Resolutions regarding Slavery and the Slave Trade.

Resolved, That the relation of master and slave, as established by law within the jurisdiction of any of the States, is an institution for which the State, within which it is established, is alone responsible, and with which neither Congress, nor the Legislature of any other State, can rightfully interfere.
Resolved, That the adoption and prosecution of measures by individuals residing within one State, with the avowed design of overthrowing the institutions of another State, by sending emissaries scattering documents, pamphlets or papers, within that State against the declared will of the same, is a disregard of that comity, and mutual respect, which should ever be cultivated among the States.
Resolved, That Congress ought not to interdict the slave-trade between the States, or to abolish slavery within the District of Columbia, or the Territories of the United States.

The first three resolutions passed the NH House on a division (i.e., hand count) vote. The fourth resolution passed also but required a roll call vote. Rep. Berry of Milton voted with the 69 representatives [33.5%] that opposed the fourth resolution, rather than with the 137 representatives [66.5%] that voted in favor of it. (The fourth resolution referred to the then current U.S. Congressional “gag” rule that sought to prevent any petitions regarding slavery ever being heard (see Milton and Abolitionism)).

Resolved, That the resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States, by which all memorials relating to the abolition of slavery, upon the presentation of the same, were ordered to lie on the table, without any further action thereon, was not an infringement of the right of petition.

The fifth resolution passed on a division vote, as had the first three of them.

Resolved, That the immediate abolition of Slavery, by whatever means effected, without the expatriation of the slaves would be productive of calamities, moral and political, such as should be deprecated by every friend of humanity. 

James Berry 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 [Eliza G. (Jewett) Berry], one male aged 20-29 years, one female aged 10-14 years, one female aged 5-9 years [Mary A. Berry], and one male aged under-5 years [Charles J. Berry]. One member of his household was engaged in Commerce and one member was engaged in Agriculture.

Son Nathaniel J. Berry was born in Milton, in 1842. Daughter Eliza E. Berry was born in Milton, in 1843. She died in 1843. Daughter Nellie Clara Berry was born in Milton, in 1844.

Father-in-law Nathaniel Jewett died in Milton, June 2, 1847.

Daughter Eliza G. Berry was born in Milton, in 1848. She died in Milton, in 1850.

James Berry, a trader, aged forty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Eliza G. [(Jewett)] Berry, aged thirty-eight years (b. NH), Mary A. Berry, aged fifteen years (b. NH), Charles J. Berry, aged thirteen years (b. NH), Nathaniel J. Berry, aged eight years (b. NH), and Clara E. Berry, aged six years (b. NH). James Berry had real estate valued at $8,000. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of James Marsh, a shoemaker, aged thirty-nine years (b. ME), and James Parker, a weaver, aged twenty-five years (b. ME).

James Berry, a farmer, aged fifty-three years (b. NH), headed a Milton (Milton Mills P.O.”) household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Eliza G. [(Jewett)] Berry, aged forty-eight years (b. NH), Mary A. Berry, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), Charles Berry, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), Nathl. J. Berry, aged seventeen years (b. NH), and Clara A. Berry, aged fifteen years (b. NH). James Berry had real estate valued at $5,500, and personal estate valued at $100. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Joseph Coleman, a farmer, aged sixty-eight years (b. NH), and Elbridge W. Fox, a farmer, aged twenty-five years (b. NH).

Daughter M. Augusta Berry endorsed the Granite State Health Institute in Hill, NH, in June 1864 (See Milton in the News – 1864)).

James Berry, a farmer, aged sixty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Eliza A. [(Jewett)] Berry, keeping house, aged fifty-nine years (b. NH), Mary A. Berry, a milliner, aged thirty-four years (b. NH), Nathaniel J. Berry, a farm laborer, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH), and Nellie C. Berry, a teacher, aged twenty-six years (b. NH). James Berry had real estate valued at $6,000, and personal estate valued at $815. Mary A. Berry had personal estate valued at $500. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Cyrus F. Hart, a farm laborer, aged forty-nine years (b. NH), and William S. Monaghan, a carder in woolen mill, aged twenty-seven years (b. MA).

Miss Augusta Berry appeared in the Milton directory of 1871, as a Milton milliner.

Daughter Nellie C. Berry married in Acton, ME, November 19, 1871, Luther B. Roberts, she of Milton and he of Limerick, ME. She was a teacher, aged twenty-seven years, and he was a merchant, aged twenty-seven years. Rev. Dexter Waterman performed the ceremony. Roberts was born in Waterboro, ME, September 13, 1845, son of Jeremiah and Olive Roberts.

Son Nathaniel J. Berry died March 19, 1880, aged thirty-eight years, one month. (The Lord doeth all things well).

James Berry, a farmer, aged seventy-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills Village”) household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Eliza G. [(Jewett)] Berry, keeping house, aged sixty-nine years (b. NH), his daughter, Mary A. Berry, a milliner, aged forty-five years (b. NH), and his mother-in-law, Nancy [(Rogers)] Jewett, at house, aged ninety-two years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Charles J. Berry, a clerk in store, aged forty-three years (b. NH), and Mary A. Nutter, keeping house, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH).

Luther B. Roberts, a storekeeper, aged thirty-four years (b. ME), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills Village”) household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included Nellie C. [(Berry)] Roberts, aged thirty-six years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Winfield S. Miller, a farmer, aged thirty years (b. ME), and John Lewis, a bookkeeper, aged thirty-seven years (b. England).

Augusta Berry appeared in the Milton directory of 1880, 1881, 1882, 1884, 1887, and 1889, as a Milton Mills milliner. (She appeared also as Miss M.A. Berry, a Milton Mills fancy goods merchant).

Mother-in-law Nancy J. (Rogers) Jewett died in Milton, January 9, 1881, aged ninety-three and ½ years.

Eliza G. (Jewett) Berry died of a heart complaint in Milton December 13, 1882, aged seventy years.

James Berry died of enteritis in Milton, December 5, 1886, aged eighty-one years, six months, and five days.

GENERAL INTELLIGENCE. Capt. Berry, an officer of the old State militia, died recently at Milton Mills (Farmington News, December 17, 1886).

Luther B. Roberts, an insurance agent, aged fifty-four years (b. ME), headed a Portland, ME. household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-nine years), Nellie C. [(Berry)] Roberts, aged fifty-six years (b. NH), his daughter, E. [Eva J.] Roberts, aged eighteen years (b. ME), and his boarder, Clifford Legrow, a cabinet engineer, aged twenty-three years (b. ME). Luther B Roberts rented their house. Nellie C. Roberts was the mother of one child, of whom one was still living.

MILTON MILLS. Mrs. L.B. Roberts of Portland is visiting her sister, Miss M. Augusta Berry (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), August 9, 1907).

MILTON MILLS. The woman’s missionary society met Friday afternoon at the home of Miss M. Augusta Berry (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), June 5, 1908).

MILTON MILLS. Miss M. Augusta Berry, who has been quite ill for several weeks, is now much better (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), November 13, 1908).

Luther B. Roberts, a real estate agent, aged sixty-five years (b. ME), headed a Portland, ME, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty-eight years), Nellie C. [(Berry)] Roberts, aged sixty-five years (b. NH), his daughter, Eva J. Roberts, aged twenty-seven years (b. ME), and his lodgers, George Huntress, a paper hanger, aged sixty-nine years (b. ME), and Lura C. Partington, aged seventy-eight years (b. ME). Luther B. Roberts owned their house at 311 Amb. Avenue. Nellie C. Roberts was the mother of two children, of whom one was still living. Lura C. Partington was also the mother of two children, of whom one was still living.

Agusta M. Berry, aged eighty-four years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the tie of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. Her household included her brother-in-law, Luther B. Roberts, aged seventy-four years (b. ME), and her sister, Nellie C. [(Berry)] Roberts, aged seventy-five years (b. NH). Agusta M. Berry owned their house on Main Street, free-and-clear. Their household appeared between those of Frank H. Whipple, a blacksmith, aged thirty years (b. MA), and Loring W. Pillsbury, a woolen mill carpenter, aged twenty-seven years (b. ME).

Daughter Mary A. Berry died of chronic interstitial nephritis on Main Street in Milton Mills, January 10, 1922 [1923], aged eighty-six years, eight months, and eighteen days. (Gathering Home).

Luther B. Roberts, retired, aged eighty-four years (b. ME), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Clara E. [(Berry)] Roberts, aged eighty-seven years (b. NH). Luther B. Roberts owned their house on Main Street, which was valued at $2,000. They did not have a radio set. Their household appeared between those of Fred H. Simes, a woolen mill superintendent, aged sixty-two years (b. NH), and Mary E. Clark, a private family housewife, aged fifty-nine years (b. NY).

Son Charles J. Berry died in Portland, ME, March 17, 1933.

Son-in-law Luther B. Roberts died in Milton Mills, August 5, 1933, aged eighty-seven years.

Daughter Clara Ellen “Nellie” (Berry) Roberts died of broncho-pneumonia in Milton Mills, August 23, 1938, aged ninety-four years, four months, and twenty-one years. She was a lifelong resident, except for forty years. P.A. Kimball, M.D. signed the death certificate.

References:

Find a Grave. (2018, April 26). Charles Jewett Berry. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/189182567/charles-jewett-berry

Find a Grave. (2021, March 3). Eliza E. Berry. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/223823002/eliza-e-berry

Find a Grave. (2021, March 3). Eliza G. Berry. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/223823054/eliza-g-berry

Find a Grave. (2013, August 12). James Berry. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115349770/james-berry

Find a Grave. (2013, August 12). Mary A. Berry. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115349918/mary-a-berry

Find a Grave. (2013, August 12). Nathaniel J. Berry. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115349977/nathaniel-j-berry

Find a Grave. (2013, August 16). Nellie Clara Berry Roberts. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115578580/nellie-clara-roberts

NH General Court. (1839). Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of New-Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=cyswAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA146

By Muriel Bristol | September 3, 2023

William Foxwell Cutts was born in North Berwick, ME, December 22, 1830, son of Thomas J. and Huldah (Chadbourne) Cutts.

Father Thomas J. Cutts [Sr.] died in Berwick, ME, September 9, 1844.

Huldah [(Chadbourne)] Cutts, aged forty-seven years (b. ME), headed a North Berwick, ME, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. Her household included Henry O. Cutts, a farmer, aged twenty-three years (b. ME), Julia A. Cutts, aged twenty-two years (b. ME), William F. Cutts, a farmer, aged nineteen years (b. ME), Levi C. Cutts, aged fourteen years (b. ME), Humphrey C. Cutts, aged thirteen years (b. ME), George W. Cutts, aged eleven years (b. ME), Thomas J. Cutts, aged eleven years (b. ME), Charles A. Cutts, aged six years (b. ME), and Betsey Linscott, aged twenty-five years (b. ME). Huldah Cutts had real estate valued at $1,500.

William F. Cutts married, circa 1854, Mary A. Sanborn. She was born in Acton, ME, September 28, 1835, daughter of Luther and Abigail (Berry) Sanborn.

(The known children of William F. and Mary A. (Sanborn) Cutts were May Cutts (1856-1856), Ora E. Cutts (1858-1944), Charles W. Cutts (1862-1958), and Fred H. Cutts (1864-1902).

Daughter May Cutts was born July 12, 1856. She died September 11, 1856.

Mother Huldah (Chadbourne) Cutts died in North Berwick, ME, September 1, 1857.

Daughter Ora Eva Cutts was born in Milton, in December 1858.

William F. Cutts, a farmer, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Mary A. [(Sanborn)] Cutts, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), O.E. Cutts, aged one year (b. NH), Charles A. Cutts, a farmer, aged sixteen years (b. NH), and James Burrows, a shoemaker, aged thirty-five years (b. NH). William F. Cutts had real estate valued at $2,000 and personal estate valued at $600. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Joseph Rines, aged seventy-six years (b. NH), and Saml Remick, a farmer, aged thirty years (b. NH).

Son Charles William Cutts was born in Milton Mills, October 30, 1862. Son Fred H. Cutts was born in Milton Mills, November 14, 1864.

A boarding teenager, who was son of a missionary minister, committed suicide in the Cutts barn in March 1866. (See also Milton in the News – 1866).

SUICIDE. – Our correspondent at Acton informs us that Frank Bacheler committed suicide Monday morning, by hanging himself by a rope attached to a ladder in the barn. He was living with Mr. William F. Cutts, at Milton Mills, N.H., and was a son of Rev. O.R. Bacheler, a Freewill Baptist Foreign Missionary in India. Young Bacheler was a fine lad, in his sixteenth year, and was well contented in the family of Mr. Cutts, as appears by letters which he wrote to his friends but the day before his death. There is no apparent cause for his committing such a deed (Portland Daily Press (Portland, ME), March 14, 1866).

William F. Cutts, a farmer, aged thirty-nine years, headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Mary A. [(Sanborn)] Cutts, keeping house, aged thirty-five years, Ora E. Cutts, at school, aged ten years, Charles W. Cutts, at school, aged ten years, aged seven years, Fred H. Cutts, at school, aged ten years, aged five years, and Julia A. Cutts, aged forty years. William F. Cutts had real estate valued at $3,500 and personal estate valued at $435. Julia A. Cutts had personal estate valued at $3,000. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Ann M. Rowe, keeping house, aged sixty-one years (b. ME), and George Grundy, works in woolen mill, aged thirty-five years (b. England).

Milton sent William F. Cutts to Concord, NH, as one of its two NH State Representatives for the 1877-78 biennium. (He served with Luther Hayes (1820-1895) in his first year and Luther B. Roberts (1845-1933) in his second year).

Daughter Ora E. Cutts married in Wakefield, NH, November 1, 1877, John Frank Farnham, both of Milton. He was a bookkeeper, aged seventeen years, and she was aged eighteen years. Rev. Nathaniel Barker performed the ceremony. Farnham was born in Milton, April 20, 1860, son of Ezra and Harriet A. (Hubbard) Farnham.

W.F. Cutts appeared in the Milton directories of 1880, 1881, 1882, 1884, and 1887, as a Milton Mills manufacturer of plows.

William F. Cutts, a farmer, aged forty-nine years (b. ME), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Mary A. [(Sanborn)] Cutts, keeping house, aged forty-four years (b. ME), his children, Charles W. Cutts, at house, aged seventeen years (b. NH), and Fred H. Cutts, at house, aged fifteen years (b. NH), and his sister, Julia A. Cutts, keeping house, aged fifty-two years (b. ME). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of John E. Hayes, a butcher & farmer, aged forty-nine years (b. NH), and William Sanborn, a farmer, aged seventy-six years (b. ME).

John F. Farnham, an expressman, aged twenty years (b. ME), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Ora E. [(Cutts)] Farnham, keeping house, aged twenty-one years (b. ME), and his son, Fred H. Farnham, at house, aged two years (b. ME). They shared a two-family residence with the household of [his father,] Ezra Farnham, an expressman, aged forty-eight years (b. ME).

Son Charles W. Cutts married (1st) in New Castle, NH, April 10, 1889, Grace Garvin, he of Milton Mills and she of New Castle, NH. He was a teacher, aged twenty-six years, and she was a housekeeper, aged twenty-four years. Rev. George B. Frost performed the ceremony. She was born in Acton, ME, August 27, 1862, daughter of John A. and Ann B. (White) Garvin.

Daughter-in-law Grace (Garvin) Cutts died of apoplexy in New Hampton, NH, January 27, 1890, aged twenty-five years, five months. Wm. Child signed the death certificate.

Mary A. (Sanborn) Cutts died of surgical shock in Portland, ME, October 13, 1893, aged fifty-eight years, and fifteen days. S.C. Gordon signed the death certificate.

Son Charles W. Cutts married (2nd) in Bristol, NH, November 17, 1894, Isadore M. Musgrave, he of Kerika College, NY, and she of Bristol, NH. He was a professor, aged thirty-four years, and she was a houseworker, aged twenty-five years. Rev. John D. LeGro performed the ceremony. She was born in Bristol, NH, December 24, 1870, daughter of Richard W. Musgrave.

Son Fred H. Cutts married in Milton, November 4, 1896, Edna M. Swayne, he of Somersworth, NH, and she of Ashland, NH. He was a merchant, aged thirty-two years, and she was a school teacher, aged twenty-two years. Rev. E.N. Fernald performed the ceremony. She was born in Newton, MA, April 12, 1875, daughter of George R. [or P.] and Annie E. (Ellis) Swayne.

F.H. Cutts appeared in the Milton directory of 1898, as a Milton justice-of-the-peace.

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-nine years (b. ME). William F. Cutts owned their farm, free-and-clear. Their household appeared just after that of Lincoln Goodwin, a day laborer, aged thirty-nine years (b. ME).

J. Frank Farnham, excelsior manufacturing, aged forty years (b. ME), headed a Wakefield, NH, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-two years), Ora E. [(Cutts)] Farnham, aged forty-one years (b. ME), his children, Fred H. Farnham, a bookkeeper, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), Hazel A. Farnham, aged two years (b. NH), and his aunt, Julia A. Cutts, aged seventy-two years (b. ME). J. Frank Farnham owned their house, free-and-clear. Ora E. Farnham was the mother of two children, of whom two were still living. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of John W. Prescott, postmaster, aged fifty-one years (b. NH), and Charles Rowell, a groceries salesman, aged fifty-one years (b. ME).

Charles W. Cutts, principal of academy, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Blue Hill, ME, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of three years), Isadore M. [(Musgrave)] Cutts, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH), and his daughters, Ethel B. Cutts, at school, aged sixteen years (b. NH), and Mary E. Cutts, aged two years (b. NH). Charles W. Cutts rented their house. Isadore M. Cutts was the mother of one child, of whom one was still living.

Fred H. Cutts, a grocer, aged thirty-five years (b. NH), headed a Somersworth, NH, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of four years), Edna S. [(Swayne)] Cutts, aged twenty-five years (b. MA). Fred H. Cutts rented their house on Pleasant Street.

Son Fred H. Cutts died of septicemia in Milton, March 30, 1902, aged thirty-seven years, four months, and twenty-six years. W.E. Pillsbury, M.D., signed the death certificate.

Acton. Fred Cutts of Milton Mills, who cut his foot a few weeks ago, died Sunday, the 30th, of blood poisoning (Sanford Tribune (Sanford, ME), April 4, 1902).

Daughter-in-law Isadore M. (Musgrave) Cutts died of appendicitis in Merrimac, MA, September 22, 1902, aged thirty-one years, eight months, and twenty-eight days.

W.F. Cutts appeared in the Milton directory of 1904, as a Milton Mills manufacturer of plows.

Daughter-in-law Edna S. (Swayne) Cutts married (2nd) in Ashland, NH, October 4, 1905, Lauriston M. Goddard, both of Ashland, NH. She was a teacher, aged thirty years, and he was a clerk, aged twenty-seven years. Rev. George A. Thompson performed the ceremony.

UNION. Hazel Farnham spent a few days last week with her grandfather, Foxwell Cutts (Farmington News, July 16, 1906).

Son Charles William Cutts married (3rd) in Franklin, NH, July 9, 1908, Nellie Woodworth Curtis, both of Merrimac, MA. He was a teacher, aged forty-five years, and she was a nurse, aged forty-three years. Rev. Lewis W. Phillips performed the ceremony. She was born in Bowdoin, ME, in 1866, daughter of David H. and Rachel A. (Merryman) Curtis.

William F. Cutts of Milton Mills died of heart syncope in Acton, ME, February 23, 1910, aged seventy-nine years, two months, and two days. H.D. Grant, M.D., signed the death certificate.

DEATHS. CUTTS – In Milton Mills, N.H., Feb. 23, William Foxwell Cutts, 78 yrs. Burial Sunday, Feb. 27 (Boston Globe, February 26, 1910).

UNION. Charles Cutts and family of Merrimac, Mass., have been spending a few days with Mr. and Mrs. Frank Farnham (Farmington News, April 1, 1910).

J. Frank Farnham, an excelsior manager, aged fifty years (b. ME), headed a Wakefield, NH, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty years), 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. Farnham, aged seventy years (b. ME). J. Frank Farnham owned their house, free-and-clear. Ora E. Farnham was the mother of two children, of whom two were still living.

Charles W. Cutts, a school teacher, aged forty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Merrimac, MA, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal census. His household included his wife (of one year), Nellie W. [(Curtis)] Cutts, aged forty-four years (b. ME), and his daughters, Ethel B. Cutts, aged twenty years (b. NH), and Elizabeth M. Cutts, aged twelve years (b. NH). Charles W. Cutts rented their house at 194 Main Street.

UNION. Mrs. Charles Cutts of Derry returned with Mr. and Mrs. Farnham for a few days’ visit (Farmington News, May 26, 1916).

UNION. Charles Cutts and family of Derry and Fred Farnham and family of Winchester, Mass., are guests at the Farnham cottage at East lake (Farmington News, July 14, 1916).

UNION. Mrs. Charles Cutts of Derry is visiting at the home of Frank Farnham (Farmington News, September 15, 1916).

UNION. Miss Ethel Cutts of Derry is visiting her aunt, Mrs. J. Frank Farnham (Farmington News, July 6, 1917).

UNION. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cutts and daughters are visiting at Camp Hazelhurst, East lake (Farmington News, July 13, 1917).

Frank Farnham, an excelsior manager, aged fifty-nine years (b. ME), headed a Wakefield, NH, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Ora E. [(Cutts)] Farnham, aged sixty-one years (b. ME), his daughter, Hazel Farnham, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), and his mother, Harriet Farnham, aged eighty-two years (b. ME). Frank Farnham owned their house, free-and-clear.

Charles W. Cutts, superintendent of schools, aged fifty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Derry, NH, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Nellie C. [(Curtis)] Cutts, aged fifty-four years (b. ME), his daughter, M. Elizabeth Cutts, a music teacher, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), and his boarder, Beatrice E. Gove, aged fifteen years (b. ME). Charles W. Cutts owned their house on Marlborough Road, free-and-clear.

Charles W. Cutts, a Normal School teacher, aged sixty-six years (b. ME), headed a Keene, NH, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-one years), Nellie W. [(Curtis)] Cutts, aged sixty-five years (b. ME). Charles W. Cutts rented their house at 34 Bruder Street, for $55 per month. They had a radio set.

Son Charles W. (Nellie W.) Cutts appeared in the Keene, NH, directory of 1931, as a teacher at the State Normal school, with his house at 48 Appian Way.

Son-in-law John F. Farnham died of coronary thrombosis in Union village, Wakefield, NH, February 17, 1933, aged seventy-two years, nine months, and twenty-seven days. He was a retired excelsior manufacturer. He had lived in Wakefield, NH, for 45 years, i.e., since circa 1888, with his previous residence having been in Acton, ME. Fred L. Clow signed the death certificate.

Brother Thomas J. Cutts [Jr.] died in Milton, March 15, 1933, aged ninety-four years. (See Milton in the News – 1933).

John E. Kennett, a retail general store proprietor, aged forty-two years (b. NH), headed an Old Orchard Beach, ME, household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Hazel F. [(Farnham)] Kennett, aged forty-two years (b. NH), his mother-in-law, Ora E. [(Cutts)] Farnum, aged eighty-one years (b. ME), and his servant, Rose Gonneville, a private family housekeeper, aged forty-four years (b. Canada). John E. Kennett owned their house on Union Avenue, which was valued at $3,000. John E. and Jazel F. Kennett had resided in the “same house” in 1935, while Ora E. Farnham had resided in Union, NH, and Rose Gonneville had resided in Biddeford, ME.

C.W. Cutts, a Keene Teachers College teacher, aged seventy-seven years (b. NH), headed a Keene, NH, household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Nellie W. [(Curtis)] Cutts, aged seventy-three years (b. ME). C.W. Cutts owned their house at 48 Appian Way, which was valued $8,000. They had resided in the “same house” in 1935.

Daughter Ora E. (Cutts) Farnham died in Old Orchard Beach, ME, March 12, 1944, aged eighty-five years, three months.

DEATHS. Mrs. J.F. Farnham Dies At Home Of Her Daughter. Mrs. Ora E. Farnham, widow of J. Frank Farnham of Union N.H., who for the past 11 years had resided with her: daughter, Mrs. John E. Kennett, of Old Orchard Beach, died at the Kennett home, 143 Union avenue, Sunday, following a lengthy illness. Her age was 85 years and 3 months. Mrs. Farnham was born in No. Berwick, the daughter of William and Mary (Sanborn) Cutts. She attended the schools of her native community and resided there during a lengthy period of her younger life previous to going to Keene and Union, N.H., to make her home. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star chapter of Union and of the Baptist church of Milton Mills. Since coming to Old Orchard Beach she had made many new friends through her pleasing personality and friendly disposition. Her passing away will cause much sorrow for her intimate friends and surviving relatives. Besides her daughter, Mrs. J.E. Kennett, she leaves a son, Fred H. Farnham, of New York, two grandchildren, and a brother, Charles W. Cutter [Cutts] of Keene, N.H. Prayers will be conducted at the Kennett home, 143 Union avenue, Old Orchard Beach, Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock. The body will then be taken to Union, N.H., where funeral services will be held at the Congregational church in Union on Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock (Biddeford-Saco Journal (Biddeford, ME), [Monday,] March 13, 1944).

Hanover News and Personals. … A reception was given Professor and Mrs. Charles W. Cutts in Keene last week at the parish house of the First Congregational church. Mr. and Mrs. Cutts are leaving Keene where he has been teaching for the past few years, for Haverhill, Mass., where they will now make their home. Mr. Cutts was for eight years superintendent of schools for this district previous to 1928 when he resigned to go to the Teachers college in Keene (The Landmark (White River Junction, VT), April 19, 1945).

Daughter-in-law Edna M. ((Swayne) Cutts) Goddard died of acute myocarditis in Ashland, NH, May 16, 1945, aged seventy years, one month, and four days. She was a teacher and librarian. Leon M. Orton, M.D., signed the death certificate.

Charles W. Cutts, unable to work, aged eighty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Haverhill, MA, household at the time of the Seventeenth (1950) Federal census. His household included his wife, Nellie W. [(Curtis)] Cutts, aged eighty-four years (b. ME). They resided at 22 Webster Street.

Daughter-in-law Nellie W. (Curtis) Cutts died, probably in Haverhill, MA, in 1955.

Son Charles W. Cutts died in the Hale Hospital Haverhill, MA, March 9, 1958, aged ninety-five years.

Charles W. Cutts. HANOVER. – Word has been received of the death of Charles Cutts, 95, of Haverhill, Mass., school superintendent here from about 1922-1928. Mr. Cutts died Sunday in Hale Hospital, Haverhill. Mr. Cutts was a retired Keene, N.H., Teachers College professor and was also a superintendent of schools at Derry, N.H., and a school principal at Merrimac High School. He was a member of the Rotary Clubs in Hanover and Keene. He was married to the late Mrs. Nellie (Curtis) Cutts. Services will be held tomorrow afternoon at the Dole and Child’s Funeral home, 148 Main St., Haverhill. Burial will be in Milton Mills, N.H. (Valley News (West Lebanon, N.H.), March 11, 1958).

---

References:

Find a Grave. (2013, August 7). Charles W. Cutts. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115051979/charles-w-cutts

Find a Grave. (2013, August 7). Fred H. Cutts. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115052029/fred-h-cutts

Find a Grave. (2013, August 7). May Cutts. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115051839/may-cutts

Find a Grave. (2013, July 29). Thomas Jefferson Cutts. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114553563/thomas-jefferson-cutts

Find a Grave. (2013, August 7). William F. Cutts. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115051803/william-f-cutts

Find a Grave. (2021, May 7). Ora E. (Cutts) Farnham. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/226580653/ora-e-farnham

Jewell & Tuttle. (1878). Annual New England Official Directory and General Hand-Book. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=Qko9AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA354

NH General Court. (1877). Journals of the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the State of New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=mOI3AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA149

NH General Court. (1878). Journals of the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the State of New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=tUYlAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA227

By Muriel Bristol | August 27, 2023

John Hanson Varney was born in Milton, August 31, 1794, son of Caleb and Huldah (Hussey) Varney.

Mother Huldah (Hussey) Varney died in Berwick, ME, March 26, 1807.

John H. Varney married, in 1823, Betsy W. Cloutman, he of Milton and she of Rochester, NH. Rev. James Walker performed the ceremony. She was born in Rochester, NH, June 12, 1800.

(The known children of John H. and Betsy W. (Cloutman) Varney were Susan Varney (1824-1895), Caleb Varney (1826-1845), Lydia Varney (1828–1908), Ruth Varney (1830-1913), John Hanson Varney II (1832–1893), and Charles Ayer Varney (1834–1893), Betsy Varney (c1836-), [Baby Girl] Varney (1838-1838), Lindley Hoag Varney (1839-1844), Theron F. Varney (1842-1882), and George H. Varney (1844-1844)).

Daughter Susan Varney was born in Milton, November 8, 1824.

William Sargent succeeded Ira Fish in the fulling mill business in 1820, and carried on the business until 1825, when he was succeeded by John H. Varney, who, after some twenty-two years of successful business, sold out to Joshua Holland in 1847 (Scales, 1914).

Son Caleb Varney was born in Milton, September 16, 1826.

Father Caleb Varney died June 6, 1828.

Daughter Lydia Varney was born in Milton, July 25, 1828. Daughter Ruth Varney was born in Milton, June 16, 1830. Son John H. Varney [Jr.] was born in Milton, March 29, 1832.

John H. Varney and James A. Ricker headed the Milton chapter of the Strafford County Temperance Society in 1833. The Milton chapter had 227 of the 6,423 Strafford County members. Somersworth had 944 members, Dover had 632, New Hampton had 518, Rochester 450, Sanbornton had 380, and other places had fewer members than Milton (NH Temperance Society, 1833).

Son Charles Ayer Varney was born in Milton, May 19, 1834. Daughter Betsy Varney was born in Milton March 18, 1836.

Daughter “Baby Girl” Varney was born in Milton, October 10, 1838. She died the same day. Son Lindley Hoag Varney was born in Milton, November 4, 1839.

John H. Varney headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 40-49 years [himself], one female aged 40-49 years [Betsy W. (Cloutman) Varney], one female aged 15-19 years [Susan Varney], one male aged 10-14 years [Caleb Varney], one female aged 10-14 years [Lydia Varney], one female aged 5-9 years [Ruth Varney], two males aged 5-9 years [John H. Varney and Charles A. Varney], one female aged under-5 years [Betsy Varney], one male aged under-5 years [Lindley H. Varney], and one female aged 60-69 years. One member of his household was engaged in Manufacture and the Trades.

Son Theron F. Varney was born in Milton, in 1842.

Milton sent John H. Varney to Concord, NH, as its NH State Representative for the 1841-42 biennium.

On June 30, 1841, Democrat Rep. Albert F. Baker (1809-1841) of Hillsborough, NH, filed a series of five resolutions aimed apparently at asserting New Hampshire’s rights under the U.S. Constitution to extradite accused persons from another state.

Mr. Baker of Hillsborough introduced a Report. Which was read. And the following Resolutions:
Resolved, That the Constitution of the United States was established by the people of the States respectively, the people of each State acting in their sovereign capacity as a party to compact.
Resolved, That each State is sovereign within its own territory, except so far as that sovereignty nay be abridged by the of the powers specified in the Federal constitution.
Resolved, That the Federal Government is limited in its jurisdiction, but within its appropriate sphere, is paramount to the authority of the States.
Resolved, That it is the duty of the Federal Government provide for the faithful observance of the stipulations contained the Federal Constitution.
Resolved, That the refusal of one State to surrender a person charged with the commission of a crime within another State, who shall flee from justice, is an open disregard of the plain letter of the Constitution, subversive of the peace and harmony of the Union, destructive of the ends for which the Federal Constitution was established.
Resolved, That the Executive of this State be requested to transmit to the Executive of the several States, to be laid before their respective Legislatures, and to our Senators and Representatives in Congress to be laid before that body, a copy of the above report and of these resolutions.

(Rep. Baker was a brother of Mary Baker Eddy, founder of the Christian Science Church, and a protégé of then U.S. Senator Franklin Pierce. Although young, Rep Baker did not live out his term: “Albert Baker, a prominent lawyer and politician of New-Hampshire, died at Hillsborough on the 17th [October 1841], aged thirty-one years” (The Liberator, October 29, 1841)).

A number of amendments to the various parts of the overall resolution were all defeated on voice votes (no individualized voting records). Whig Rep. William W. Stickney (1827-1888) of Newmarket, NH, proposed that additional clarifying language should be added:

Provided however, that these resolutions are to have no reference whatever to the conduct of the Governors of the States of Maine and Georgia.

The Stickney motion failed also on a voice vote, but it does make one wonder if these specified Governors might otherwise be considered to be extradition targets. Edward Kent was the Whig Governor of Maine, and he had played a role in both instigating and resolving the so-called Aroostook War of 1838-39.

Rep. Jacob Morrill (1812-1864) of Somersworth, NH, proposed that a sixth supplementary resolution (modeled after the US. Second Amendment) be appended to the five that has passed already:

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives, That a well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

The House Speaker ruled that adding the sixth resolution would be out of order. A roll call vote was taken as to whether it was actually in order and whether it should pass. Rep Varney voted with the 51 members [23.5%] that voted against the additional resolution, rather than with the 166 members [76.5%] that voted in favor of it. So, the sixth resolution passed to be added to the original five others.

On Friday, June 23, 1843, the NH House took up Rep. Goodwin’s bill to authorize the NH State Treasurer “… to receive the portion of the proceeds of the sales of the public lands in the United States treasury assigned to the State of New Hampshire.” A motion was put forward to indefinitely postpone this bill. Rep. Varney voted with the minority of 101 members [45.7%] that opposed postponement, rather than the majority of 121 members [54.3%] that opposed postponement.

On Tuesday, June 27, 1843, the Committee on Military Affairs put forward as inexpedient to legislate a bill “… amending the law relative to unconditional exempts from military duty, as to embrace all persons conscientiously scrupulous of bearing arms.” Rep. Varney voted with the minority of 61 members [27.6%] that favored the conscientious objection bill, rather than the majority of 160 members [72.4%] that opposed it.

Son George H. Varney was born in Milton, May 24, 1844. He died in Milton, July 30, 1844, aged two months.

Son Caleb Varney died due to a fire in Milton, November 18, 1845. (See Milton in the News – 1845).

FIRE AND LOSS OF LIFE. A correspondent of the Bee at Rochester, N.H., writes that a fire broke out on the 17th at Milton Three Ponds, which consumed the new and excellent yarn mill of Messrs. A.S. Howard & Co. – Loss about §12,000, and no insurance. A very worthy young man, the son of John H. Varney, who was a watchman in the mill, was burnt to death (Baltimore Daily Commercial, November 24, 1845).

John H. Varney died of rheumatic fever in Milton, in January 1850, aged fifty-five years.

Daughter Ruth Varney married in Milton, March 5, 1850, James W. Nutter, both of Milton. Rev. James Doldt performed the ceremony. Nutter was born in Milton, May 26, 1829, son of Matthias and Sarah (Wentworth) Nutter. (His father was a War of 1812 veteran).

Betsey W. [(Cloutman)] Varney, aged forty-nine years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. Her household included Susan Varney, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), Lydia Varney, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), Ruth [(Varney)] Nutter, aged twenty years (b. NH), John H. Varney, a shoemaker, aged eighteen years (b. NH), Charles A. Varney, a shoemaker, aged sixteen years (b. NH), Betsey Varney, aged fourteen years (b. NH), Theron F. Varney, aged eight years (b. NH), James W. Nutter, a shoemaker, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), George Scates, a trader, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), John G. Drew, a manufacturer, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH), and John W. Nutter, a shoemaker, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH). Betsy W. Varney had real estate valued at $2,000. James W. Nutter had real estate valued at $1,000. George Scates had real estate valued at $2,000. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Ira Knox, a shoemaker, aged twenty years (b. ME), and Noah Warren, a shoemaker, aged twenty-four years (b. NH).

Daughter Susan Varney married, circa 1858, Brackett F. Avery. He was born in Wolfeboro, July 23, 1828, son of Walter and Sally (Cotton) Avery.

Son Charles A. Varney married, circa 1858, Sophia J. Nute. She was born in Milton, April 27, 1842, daughter of John C. and Sarah A. (Varney) Nute.

Betsey [(Cloutman)] Varney, aged fifty-nine years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. Her household included Lydia Varney, aged thirty-one years (b. NH), Theron F. Varney, a shoemaker, aged eighteen years (b. NH), and Moses L.F. Smith, a shoemaker, aged twenty-one years (b. NH). Betsy Varney had real estate valued at $2,000 and personal estate valued at $700. Her household appeared between two unoccupied houses (just after that of Ezra Tuttle, a clergyman, aged forty-three years (b. NH)), and John M. Varney, a carpenter, aged forty years (b. NH).

Brackett F. Avery, a farmer, aged thirty-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Susan V. [(Varney)] Avery, aged thirty-four years (b. NH), and John H. Avery, aged one year (b. NH). Brackett F. Avery had real estate valued at $2,500 and personal estate valued at $700. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Eli C. Rankin, a farmer, aged forty years (b. NH), and Eli Fernald, a whitesmith, aged thirty-three years (b. ME).

James W. Nutter, a cordwainer, aged thirty-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Ruth [(Varney)] Nutter, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH). James W. Nutter had personal estate valued at $100. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of D.P. Warren, a shoe manufacturer, aged forty-four years (b. NH), and Saml A. Kimball, a shoemaker, aged fifty-five years (b. NH).

John H. Varney, a shoemaker, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Nancy J. Varney, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), M.C. Blackwell, a shoemaker, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), George H. Staples, a shoemaker, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), Wallace Smith, a shoemaker, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), Mellissa Smith, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH), Samuel Clements, a shoemaker, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), Elisha B. Watson, a shoemaker, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), Charles E. Whitehouse, a shoemaker, aged twenty years (b. NH), John S. Varney, a shoemaker, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), John M. Brackett, a shoemaker, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), George W. Brackett, a shoemaker, aged nineteen years (b. NH), Daniel J. Chamberlin, a shoemaker, aged nineteen years (b. NH), John Robinson, a shoemaker, aged sixteen years (b. NH), Charles A. Varney, a shoemaker, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), and Sophia J. [(Nute)] Varney, aged nineteen years (b. NH). John H. Varney had personal estate valued at $300. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of George W. Tasker, a shoemaker, aged thirty years (b. NH), and H. Wentworth, a shoe manufacturer, aged forty-one years (b. NH).

Milton sent son Charles A. Varney and Enoch W. Plumer to Concord, NH, as its NH State Representatives for the 1861-62 biennium.

On July 3, 1861, the NH House took up “An Act for the Remodeling of the Militia.” Rep. James Emery of Tamworth, NH, moved to have the bill postponed to another session, which motion failed.

The bill being still upon its second reading, on motion of Mr. Goodall the House reconsidered the vote whereby it rejected the amendment of Mr. Bingham, to insert the word “white,” after “able-bodied,” on last line of page 6.

Rep. Varney and Rep Plumer both voted with the majority of 221 members [87.4%] that favored the amendment, rather than with the 32 members [12.6%] that opposed the amendment. The amended version received its third (and final) reading, passed the House, and proceeded to the NH Senate.

Son Theron F. Varney of Milton, aged nineteen years, enlisted in Co. D of the Second NH Volunteer Infantry Regiment, in Dover, NH, May 10, 1861, for the term of three years. He was mustered in as a Corporal at Portsmouth, NH, June 1, 1861, and he was promoted to Sergeant, August 11, 1862. (See Milton in the 2nd NH Regiment – 1861-65).

Son John H. Varney of Milton, aged twenty-nine years, enlisted in Co. H. of the Sixth NH Volunteer Infantry Regiment, November 4, 1861. He mustered in as a Private, November 28, 1861, was promoted to Sergeant, November 30, 1861. (See Milton in the 6th NH Regiment – 1861-65).

Sgt. John H. Varney was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant of Co. K of the Sixth NH Volunteer Infantry Regiment, February 1, 1863.

Sgt. Theron F. Varney deserted in Concord, NH, May 25, 1863, and was reported as such under the President’s proclamation in 1865. He was discharged at Galloup’s Island in Boston, MA, May 15, 1865.

2nd Lt. John H. Varney was promoted to 1st Lieutenant of Co. C of the Sixth NH Volunteer Infantry Regiment, February 1, 1864. He was discharged January 5, 1865.

ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. The shoe manufactory of Robert Mathews, at Milton Mills, N.H., together with the store and house of James W. Nutter, and the store of E.H. Twombly, were destroyed by fire on Monday last (Portland Daily Press (Portland, ME), March 30, 1864).

Betsey W. [(Cloutman)] Varney, aged seventy years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. Her household included Mary Cofren, aged seventy-four years (b. NH). Betsey W. Varney had real estate valued at $1,000 and personal estate valued at $200. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Amos O. Duntley, works for shoe factory, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), and Daniel Jenness, a farm laborer, aged sixty-two years (b. NH).

Brackett F. [Walter] Avery, a farmer, aged seventy-four years (b. ME), headed a Wolfeboro (“North Wolfeboro P.O.”), NH, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Walter F. [Brackett F.] Avery, a farmer, aged forty-two years (b. NH), Susan V. [(Varney)] Avery, keeping house, aged forty-five years (b. NH), Harry L. Avery, at home, aged six years (b. NH), Sally C. Avery, at home, aged three years (b. NH), and John W. Avery, at home, aged ten months (b. NH). Betsey W. Varney had real estate valued at $2,000 and personal estate valued at $818.

James W. Nutter, a farmer, aged forty-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Ruth V. [(Varney)] Nutter, keeping house, aged forty years (b. NH). James Nutter had real estate valued at $1,000 and personal estate valued at $340. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Rebecca Nute, keeping house, aged sixty-two years (b. NH), and John E. Twombly, a retail grocer, aged thirty-four years (b. NH).

John H. Varney, works in shoe factory, aged forty years (b. MA [SIC]), headed a Haverhill, MA, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Nancy J. Varney, aged thirty-three years (b. MA).

Charles A. Varney, dry goods & groceries, aged thirty-six years (b. NH), headed a Wakefield (“Union P.O.”), NH, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Sophia J. [(Nute)] Varney, keeping house, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH). Charles A. Varney had personal estate valued at $2,075.

Theron F. Varney married in Haverhill, MA, December 21, 1876, Emma Florence (Millett) Cushman. He was a shoe cutter, aged thirty-four years, and she was a widow, aged twenty-seven years. Rev. A.E. Drew performed the ceremony. She was born in Minot, ME, June 16, 1849, daughter of Edmund and Sally (Chase) Millett. (Her first husband, Lorenzo Cushman, had died in Haverhill, MA, February 15, 1871).

Betsy W. (Cloutman) Varney died in Milton, March 18, 1879.

Brackett F. Avery, a farmer, aged fifty-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included Susan V. [(Varney)] Avery, keeping house, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), Harry L. Avery, at school, aged sixteen years (b. NH), Sally C. Avery, at school, aged thirteen years (b. NH), and John W. Avery, at school, aged ten years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of George M. Corson, a farmer, aged thirty-eight years (b. ME), and William H. Ricker, a farmer, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH).

Lydia Varney, keeping house, aged fifty-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. Her household appeared in the enumeration between those of Fred P. Jones, a farmer, aged twenty years (b. NH), (who shared a two-family residence with the household of [her brother-in-law,] James W. Nutter, a farmer, aged fifty-one years (b. NH),) and Joseph Plumer, a farmer, aged sixty years (b. NH).

James W. Nutter, a farmer, aged fifty-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Ruth V. [(Varney)] Nutter, a housekeeper, aged forty-nine years (b. NH). They shared a two-family residence with the household of Fred P. Jones, a farmer, aged twenty years (b. NH).

John H. Varney, a retired shoe manufacturer, aged forty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Haverhill, MA, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Nancy J. Varney, aged forty-four years (b. MA), and his niece, Fannie E. Holland, aged fourteen years (b. ME). They resided at 21 Nichols Street.

Charles A. Varney, an excelsior manufacturer, aged forty-six years (b. NH), headed a Wakefield, NH, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Sophia J. [(Nute)] Varney, keeping house, aged thirty-eight years (b. NH).

Theron F. Varney, a shoe cutter, aged thirty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Haverhill, MA, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included Emma F. [((Millett) Cushman)] Varney, keeping house, aged twenty-nine years (b. ME), and Bessie F. Varney, aged two years (b. MA). They resided at 63 High Street.

Haverhill Politics. [Special Despatch to The Boston Globe.] HAVERHILL, December 4. – At a citizens municipal convention held in City Hall last night Hon. Moses Howe was nominated for mayor and John H. Varney for alderman at large. The aldermanic ticket is to be completed tomorrow evening and the election on Tuesday bids fair to be a lively one (Boston Globe, December 5, 1881).

John H. Varney was an at-large City Alderman in Haverhill, MA, in 1882. (The other six aldermen represent one of the city’s six Wards).

Theron F. Varney died of heart disease in Haverhill, MA, May 26, 1882, aged forty-three years, three months, and four days.

The following inventories have been filed at the Probate Court, Salem: Henry Shoof, Newburyport, $48,560.97; Thomas H. Frothingham, Salem, $155,939.27; Edward F. Couch, Newburyport, $9297.13; Benjamin T. Blake, Salisbury, $12,055; Theron F. Varney, Haverhill, $4010.71; Thomas Brackett, Salem, $13,009.65 (Boston Evening Transcript, July 5, 1882).

Son Charles A. Varney and Charles H. Hayes (1849-1916) moved to Haverhill, MA, in 1884, and there formed a box-making company under the name Varney & Hayes. (Hayes was a son of Luther and Louise A. (Bragdon) Hayes (see South Milton’s High Sheriff Luther Hayes (1820-1895))).

Son Chas. A. Varney (Varney & Hayes) appeared in the Haverhill, MA, directory of 1885, as a box mnfr. at 30 Granite street, with his house at 375 Washington street. The firm of Varney and Hayes (Chas. A. Varney and Chas. H. Hayes) appeared as mnfrs of paper and wooden boxes, at 30 to 36 Granite street.

Daughter-in-law Emma F. Varney appeared in that same Haverhill, MA, directory of 1885, as the widow of Theron F. Varney, with her house at 119 Main street. Son John H. Varney appeared also, as having his house on Main street, at its junction with Northern avenue.

FEMALE HELP WANTED. WANTED – At once, 10 experienced girls to make paper boxes; good wages. VARNEY & HAYES, Haverhill, Mass. (Boston Globe, February 6, 1886).

MALE HELP WANTED. WANTED – A good man to fit wooden boxes; also a good first-class nailer on shoe boxes; apply at once. VARNEY & HAYES, Haverhill. Mass. Sud7t my4 (Boston Globe, May 5, 1890).

MACHINERY. FOR SALE – A good second-hand 150-horse power steam engine of the Swamscott Machine Co. make, still in first-class running order; can be seen running any time within the next 6 weeks; also all the connection to connect it with boilers. VARNEY & HAYES, Haverhill, Mass. dSu10t s23 (Boston Globe, September 23, 1890).

Son-in-law James W. Nutter died December 21, 1892, aged sixty-three years, six months, and twenty-five days.

Son John H. Varney died of “suicide by shooting in head” in Haverhill, MA, January 28, 1893, aged sixty years, ten months. He was a shoe manufacturer.

PERSONAL. Charles A. Varney, late a member of the paper and wooden box manufacturing firm of Varney & Hayes, Haverhill, Mass., was stricken with apoplexy last night. Mr. Varney retired from business about a year ago (Boston Evening Transcript, June 1, 1893).

Son Charles A. Varney died of a cerebral softening and cerebral hemorrhage in Haverhill, MA, June 2, 1893, aged fifty-nine years, thirteen days. He was a manufacturer.

Funeral of Charles A. Varney. Milton, N.H., June 5. The funeral of Charles A. Varney, who died in Haverhill, Mass., was held at the Congregational church this afternoon. The services were conducted by Rev. Mr. Dickey, and were largely attended. Unity lodge of Freemasons was present and escorted the remains to the Milton cemetery, performing their burial service previous to the interment (Boston Globe, June 6, 1893).

Daughter Susan V. (Varney) Avery died of cardiac dropsy (and complications) in Milton, January 2, 1895, aged seventy years, one month, and twenty-five days. W.F. Wallace, M.D., signed the death certificate.

Daughter-in-law Emma F. Varney appeared in the Haverhill, MA, directory of 1897, as the widow of Theron F. Varney, with her house on Wellington avenue.

Daughter-in-law Emma F. ((Millett) [Cushman)] Varney married (3rd) in Haverhill, MA, February 9, 1898, Harry S. Brannan, both of Haverhill, MA. He was a decorator, aged forty-two years, and she was at home, aged forty-five years. Rev. David F. Ayers performed the ceremony. Brannan was born in Frederickton, New Brunswick, Canada, circa 1853, son of James W. and Hannah F. (Battie) Brannan.

Ruth [(Varney)] Nutter, a homekeeper, aged sixty-nine years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton Village”) household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. She rented her house. She was a widow, who had been the mother of four children, of whom none were still living. Her household appeared in the enumeration between those of Lydia Varney, a homekeeper, aged seventy-one years (b. NH), and Ralph M. Kimball, a janitor, aged forty years (b. NH).

Harry Brannon, a decorator & painter, aged forty-seven years (b. Canada), headed a Haverhill, MA, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of two years), Emma F. [(((Millett) Cushman) Varney)] Brannon, aged forty-eight years (b. ME), and his step-children, Bessie F. Varney, aged twenty-one years (b. MA), Lindley H. Varney, at college, aged twenty years (b. MA), and Chas. A. Varney, at school, aged eighteen years (b. MA). Harry S. Brannan owned their house at 27 Wellington Avenue, free-and-clear. He was a naturalized citizen, having immigrated in 1865. Emma F. Brannon was the mother of four children, of whom four were still living.

Daughter Lydia Varney died December 2, 1908.

Brackett F. Avery, a farm laborer, aged seventy-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton 3-Ponds”) household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal census. His household included his daughter, Sallie C. Avery, aged thirty-two years (b. NH). Brackett F. Avery owned their house, free-and-clear.

Brackett F. Avery, a farmer, aged eighty-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton 3-Ponds”) household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal census. His household included his daughter, Sallie Avery, aged forty-two years (b. NH). Brackett F. Avery owned their farm, free-and-clear. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of James P. Willey, an odd jobs machinist, aged fifty-three years (b. NH), and Henry S. Mason, a dry good storekeeper, aged forty-four years (b. NH).

Ruth [(Varney)] Nutter, a widow, aged seventy-nine years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton 3-Ponds”) household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. She owned her house, free-and clear. Her household appeared in the enumeration between those of Samuel G. Blaisdell, a homekeeper, aged thirty-four years (b. NH), and John Varney, a shoe shop foreman, aged forty years (b. NH).

Son-in-law Brackett F. Avery died in Milton Mills, May 30, 1911.

Daughter Ruth V. Nutter appeared in the Milton directory of 1912, as the widow of James W. Nutter, with her house at 17 Charles street, on the hill.

Daughter Ruth (Varney) Nutter died of uterine carcinoma in Milton, May 16, 1913, aged eighty-two years, eleven months. James J. Buckley, M.D., signed the death certificate.

Sophia J. Varney, aged seventy-seven years (b. NH), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. She owned her house at 12 Heaton Street.

Daughter-in-law Emma F. (((Millett) Cushman) Varney) Brannan died in Haverhill, MA, March 18, 1921.

Daughter-in-law Sophia J. (Nute) Varney died of valvular heart disease at 12 Heaton Street in Rochester, NH, July 12, 1927, aged eighty-five years, two months, and fifteen days. Edson M. Abbott, M.D., signed the death certificate.

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References:

Find a Grave. (2020, August 18). Susan Varney Avery. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/214558939/susan-avery

Find a Grave. (2020, September 7). Ruth Varney Nutter. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/215338010/ruth-nutter

Find a Grave. (2020. October 20). Baby Girl Varney. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/217521753/baby_girl-varney

Find a Grave. (2020. October 20). Caleb Varney. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/217521120/caleb-varney

Find a Grave. (2020, October 20). Charles A. Varney. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/217522900/charles-ayer-varney

Find a Grave. (2020, October 20). George H. Varney. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/217522181/george-h-varney

Find a Grave. (2020, October 20). John Hanson Varney. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/217515882/john-hanson-varney

Find a Grave. (2020, October 20). John Hanson Varney [II]. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/217524488/john-hanson-varney

Find a Grave. (2020, October 20). Lindley Hoag Varney. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/217521291/lindley-hoag-varney

Find a Grave, (2020, October 20). Lydia Varney. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/217521839/lydia-varney

Find a Grave. (2020, October 20). Theron F. Varney. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/217524163/theron-f-varney

Longyear. (1868, July 1). Albert Baker: Inspired Politician. Retrieved from www.longyear.org/learn/research-archive/albert-bakers-political-career/

NH General Court. (1841). Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of New-Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=iP5BAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA4

NH General Court. (1843). Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of New-Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=pvtBAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA14

NH General Court. (1861). Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of New-Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=DRUtAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA146

NH General Court. (1862). Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of New-Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=MQ8tAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA208

NH Temperance Society. (1833). Annual Report, 1833. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=7joZAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA16

By Muriel Bristol | August 20, 2023

Here may be found extracted the Milton entries from the New England Business Directory and Gazetteer of 1865.

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Blacksmiths. Duntley, Hazen, Milton; Goodwin, Daniel B., West Milton; Osgood, Eben Z., Milton Mills; Rines, Nathaniel, Milton Mills; Runnells, Alvah, Milton Mills.

Box Manufacturers. Dearborn, Stephen W. (boot boxes), Milton.

Carpenters and Builders. Dixon, I.W., Milton; Lucas, John, Milton; Mathes, Joseph, Milton; Seavey, George A., Milton.

Carriage and Sleigh Manuf. Brackett, John, Milton Mills, Acton; Brackett, R.W., Milton Mills, Acton.

Clergymen. Boyd, David (F.B.), Milton Mills, Acton.

Country Stores. Fox, Asa & Son, Milton Mills; Goodwin, Edward L., West Milton; Hanson, William H., Milton; Jewett, Asa, Milton Mills; Simes, Bray U., Milton Mills; Twombly, Ezra H., Milton.

Deputy Sheriff. Twombly, Ezra H., Milton.

Dyers. Brearly, Edward, Milton Mills, Acton.

Grist Mills. Dearborn, S.W., Milton; Miller, Ira, Milton Mills; Tuttle, William P., Milton.

Hotels. Huntress, Wm. H., Milton House, Milton; Reed. Lewis D., Milton Mills.

Painters (House, Carriage, &c.), Mathes, Robert, Milton.

Post Offices and Postmasters. Twombly, Ezra H., Milton; Goodwin, Edward L., West Milton; Swasey, Henry S., Milton Mills.

Physicians. Buck, Jeremiah (allo.), Milton Mills, Acton. Buck, Reuben (allo.), Milton Mills, Acton; Drew, Stephen (allo.), Milton; Palmer, Daniel E. (allo.), Milton.

Stables. Huntress, William H., Milton.

Wheelwrights. Brackett, John, Milton Mills, Acton; Brackett, Rufus W., Milton Mills, Acton; Sanborn, James, Milton.

Woolen Goods Manufacturers. Jones & Mudge, Milton Mills.

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Previous in sequence: Milton Businesses in 1860; next in sequence: Milton Businesses in 1867-68

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References:

Sampson & Murdoch. (1865). New England Business Directory and Gazetteer. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=TuA1AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA168

By Muriel Bristol | August 13, 2023

Luther B. Roberts was born in Waterboro, ME, September 13, 1845, son of Maj. Jeremiah and Olive J. (Roberts) Roberts.

Albert H. Roberts, a farmer, aged thirty-three years (b. ME), headed a Waterboro (“N. Waterborough P.O.”), ME, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Everline [(Dearborn)] Roberts, keeping house, aged thirty years (b. ME), Arthur J. Roberts, at home, aged two years (b. ME), Jere Roberts, a farmer, aged seventy-two years (b. ME), Olive J. [(Roberts)] Roberts, keeping house, aged sixty-two years (b. ME). Albert H. Roberts had real estate valued at $3,000 and personal estate valued at $1,200.

Abby Libby, keeping house, aged thirty-nine years (b. ME), headed a Limerick, ME, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Olive Libby, aged eighteen years (b. ME), Alvin Libby, a clerk in store, aged seventeen years (b. ME), Ernest Libby, aged nine years (b. ME), and Luther Roberts, a bookkeeper, aged twenty-four years (b. ME). Abby Libby had real estate valued at $150 and personal estate valued at $200.

Mother Olive J. (Roberts) Roberts died in Waterboro, ME, July 15, 1870, aged sixty-two years, five months. (“A blessing to her family”).

Luther B. Roberts married in NH, November 19, 1871, Nellie C. Berry, he of Limerick, ME, and she of Milton. He was a merchant, aged twenty-seven years, and she was a teacher, aged twenty-seven years. Rev. Dexter Waterman performed the ceremony. She was born in Milton, April 2, 1844, daughter of James and Eliza (Jewett) Berry. (Sister-in-law M. Augusta Berry had endorsed the Granite State Health Institute in Hill, NH, in June 1864 (See Milton in the News – 1864)).

(The known child of Luther B. and Nellie C. (Berry) Roberts was Eva Jewett Roberts (1881-1964)).

Luther B. Roberts appeared in the Portland, ME, directory of 1873, as a salesman at Chadbourne & Kendall’s, boarding at Commercial House. (Chadbourne & Kendall were Middle Street woolen dealers). Luther B. Roberts appeared in the Portland, ME, directory of 1875, as a salesman, with his house at 22 Bracket street.

Father Major Jeremiah Roberts died in Waterboro, ME, July 24, 1874, aged seventy-six years, two months. (“Precious to the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints”).

A Portland Man Honored – To the Editor of the Argus: In looking over the returns of the election of New Hampshire I see the town of Milton elected a Democratic representative, Luther B. Roberts, formerly of Portland, Me. I think the people of Milton have caught the honest spirit and voted for the best man up for the office. A few of the less popular among the republicans feel sore. It is hard for some to submit to an honest election. I trust Mr. R’s many friends in Portland will be pleased with his success – Milton, March 20th, 1878 – ED. (Portland Press Herald (Portland, ME), March 28, 1878).

Milton sent Luther B. Roberts and William F. Cutts to Concord, NH, as its NH State Representatives, for the 1878 session. They were allocated 180 miles in mileage expenses. Rep. Roberts was assigned to the Committee on Manufactures, and Rep. Cutts was assigned to the Committee on Retrenchment and Reform.

On Tuesday, June 11, 1878, Rep. Roberts was assigned as “teller” for one of five House divisions, or seating sections. A teller would collate or tally the voting results for his division and report them to the House Speaker.

The speaker announced the following gentlemen as the tellers of the House: First division, Mr. Roberts of Milton; Second division, Mr. Page of Haverhill; Third division, Mr. Parker of Merrimack; Fourth division, Mr. Tredick of Portsmouth; Fifth division, Mr. Patten of Manchester. 

On Wednesday, June 12, 1878, Rep. Roberts filed a bill to adjust Milton’s proportion of State taxes. His bill was assigned to the Committe on Judiciary, July 3, 1878.

By Mr. Roberts of Milton, a bill for the relief of the town of Milton, and in amendment of chapter 49, Session Laws of 1876, establishing a new proportionment for the assessment of public taxes.

The Milton tax apportionment relief bill passed on Thursday, July 18, 1878.

Prior to establishment of the civil service, many governmental offices, especially subsidiary ones of a bureaucratic nature, were purely political plums or sinecures. Frequent rotation of postmasters based upon their political affiliation is an example of this practice. (“Elections have consequences”). Now it was proposed that the tenure of the Hillsborough County Register of Probate “Major” Timothy B. Crowley (1830-1886) of Nashua, NH, be ended. (He had been overlooked in the purge or reshuffling of 1874).

NEW HAMPSHIRE. Legislative Matters – The Case of Major Crowley, Register of Probate in Hillsborough County. (Special Despatch to The Boston Globe). Concord, N.H., July 17. The special assignment for this forenoon was an address for the removal of Timothy B. Crowley, Register of Probate for Hillsborough County. He was spared during the general slaughter when the State Government changed in 1874, but his head is now demanded, he is a wounded soldier, and this fact was the consideration which saved him before from the public guillotine. Aaron F. Stevens of Nashua advocated his removal, and said it was in accordance with the established custom of both political parties. He acknowledged that Major Crowley was an honest, faithful and capable man, and stated that his removal was on political grounds alone; also, that he had, by his earnest and effective work in behalf of the Democracy of Nashua and the State, made himself objectionable to the Republicans, who now demand his removal. Frank H. Pierce of Hillsborough referred to a remonstrance signed by ex-judges, lawyers and distinguished persons of Hillsborough County, as well as several ex-mayors of the city of Nashua, against his removal, and stated that the gentleman named as Crowley’s successor had also signed the remonstrance and would not raise bis hand to deprive the gallant soldier of the office he now holds. Mr. Pierce said if any cause other than of a political character could be presented for this removal, he might then cease his opposition. General Marston of Exeter, a prominent Republican, has previously stated that he would never vote for Crowley’s removal as he went into the battle where he received his wounds at his command. The General and a number of other Republicans desire that Major Crowley retain the office. An unsuccessful effort was made to indefinitely postpone and the matter will come up tomorrow as unfinished business (Boston Globe, July 18, 1878).

On Thursday, July 18, 1878, Republican Rep. Aaron F. Stevens (1819-1887) of Nashua, NH, made a motion to remove Timothy B. Crowley from the office of Hillsborough County Register of Probate. Crowley was a Democrat, who had been a Major in the Civil War and had been wounded in battle. He had served in the war under another House member, a Republican, who refused to vote for the ouster on personal grounds rather than political ones.

Proceedings began with a vote on whether or not to even take the vote. It was decided to take the vote. That began as a division vote, i.e., a hand raising or secret ballot count, which resulted in 153 members [54.3%] in favor of removing Register Crowley and 129 members [45.7%] opposed to removing him. But Democrat Rep. Frank H. Pierce (1848-1920) of Hillsborough, NH, demanded a roll call vote, i.e., one where the names are recorded, which resulted in 171 members [53.1%] in favor, including Rep. Cutts of Milton, and 151 members [46.9%], including Rep. Roberts of Milton, opposed.

On Monday, July 22, 1878,

A House bill entitled, “An act in relation to the New-Hampshire asylum for the insane,” with amendments by the honorable Senate, was, on motion of Mr. Roberts of Milton, laid upon the table.

On motion of Mr. Roberts of Milton, the bill entitled, “An act in relation to the New-Hampshire asylum for the insane,” was taken from the table, and, on motion of Mr. Dow of Concord, laid upon the table.

Luther B. Roberts, a storekeeper, aged thirty-four years (b. ME), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills Village”) household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included Nellie C. [(Berry)] Roberts, aged thirty-six years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Winfield S. Miller, a farmer, aged thirty years (b. ME), and John Lewis, a bookkeeper, aged thirty-seven years (b. England).

L.B. Roberts appeared in the Milton directories of 1880, 1881, and 1882, as a manufacturer of saddle housings.

Daughter Eva Jewett Roberts was born in Portland, ME. September 14, 1881.

Mother-in-law Eliza G. (Jewett) Berry died of a heart complaint in Milton, December 13, 1882, aged seventy years.

Luther B. Roberts appeared in the Portland, ME, directories of 1883, and 1884, as a traveling salesman at 229 Middle street, with his house at 22 Green street.

Luther B. Roberts appeared in the Portland, ME, directories of 1885, and 1886, as a traveling salesman at 229 Middle street, with his house at 50 Winter street.

Father-in-law James C. Berry died of enteritis in Milton, December 5, 1886, aged eighty-one years, six months, and five days. He was a farmer.

Presentation. Directly after the installation of the officers of Longfellow Lodge, No. 43, K. of P., last evening, Past Chancellor Luther B. Roberts stepped to the Past Chancellor’s chair, and in a neat speech presented Past Chancellor Chas. M. Ilsley with a jewel of his office. It was a surprise to Charles, but he responded in his usual honest and happy manner (Portland Daily Press, January 6, 1887).

Luther B. Roberts appeared in the Portland, ME, directories of 1887, 1888, 1889, and 1890, as a traveling salesman at 229 Middle street, with his house at 55 Winter street.

PERSONAL. Mr. Luther B. Roberts, president of the Maine Commercial Travelers’ Association, will attend the fifth annual dinner of the wholesale dealers at Lewiston this evening (Portland Daily Press (Portland, ME), April 22, 1889).

Luther B. Roberts appeared in the Portland, ME, directories of 1891, as an agent for S.V. Coal & Iron at 16 Monument square, with his house at 55 Winter street.

Luther B. Roberts appeared in the Portland, ME, directories of 1893, as a general agent and broker at 223 Middle street, with his house at 845 Congress street.

Luther B. Roberts appeared in the Portland, ME, directory of 1899, as an insurance agent, boarding at 311, Cumberland ave.

Luther B Roberts, an insurance agent, aged fifty-four years (b. ME), headed a Portland, ME. household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-nine years), Nellie C. [(Berry)] Roberts, aged fifty-six years (b. NH), his daughter, E. [Eva J.] Roberts, aged eighteen years (b. ME), and his boarder, Clifford Legrow, a cabinet engineer, aged twenty-three years (b. ME). Luther B Roberts rented their house. Nellie C. Roberts was the mother of one child, of whom one was still living.

Luther B. Roberts appeared in the Portland, ME, directories of 1902, as an insurance agent at 96 Exhange street, with his house at 311 Cumberland ave. Miss Eva J. Roberts appeared as boarding at 311 Cumberland ave.

Luther B. Roberts appeared in the Portland, ME, directories of 1904, 1905, and 1906, as a Ward 4 Councilman and insurance agent, with his house at 311 Cumberland ave. Miss Eva J. Roberts appeared in those same years as boarding at 311 Cumberland ave.

Luther B. Roberts, a real estate agent, aged sixty-five years (b. ME), headed a Portland, ME, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty-eight years), Nellie C. [(Berry)] Roberts, aged sixty-five years (b. NH), his daughter, Eva J. Roberts, aged twenty-seven years (b. ME), and his lodgers, George Huntress, a paper hanger, aged sixty-nine years (b. ME), and Lura C. Partington, aged seventy-eight years (b. ME). Luther B. Roberts owned their house at 311 Amb. Avenue. Nellie C. Roberts was the mother of two children, of whom one was still living. Lura C. Partington was also the mother of two children, of whom one was still living.

SOCIAL LIFE AND GOSSIP. The Calendar Club was attractively entertained Friday afternoon by Mrs. Fred S. Woods of Deering street, the meeting being held in honor of Miss Eva J. Roberts, whose marriage takes place early in October. The afternoon was passed socially and the guest of honor received the cordial good wishes of her fellow club members being presented with a handsome piece of cut glass. Refreshment dainties were tastefully served, the spirit of the occasion being suggested by the decoration of wedding bells in gilt, tied with blue ribbon representing the club colors. Those present on this occasion were Mrs. Francis Cummings, Miss Alice M. Fernald, Mrs. T. Richard Pye, Miss Luenna F. Sands, Miss Clara L. Schumacher, Mrs. E. Leland Stone, Miss Annie G. Weeks, the hostess, Mrs. Woods, and the honor guest, Miss Roberts. The club is to study Shakespeare this season and very attractive programs were distributed at this meeting (Portland Sunday Telegram (Portland, ME), September 22, 1912).

Daughter Eva Jewett Roberts married in Portland, ME, October 2, 1912, William Henry Wood, she of Portland, ME, and he of New York, NY. He was a broker, aged twenty-seven years, and she was aged twenty-nine years. Rev. Alfred W. Jefferson performed the ceremony. He was born in New York, NY, October 13, 1884, son of James Henry and Augusta E. (Dodge) Wood.

Luther B. Roberts was one of seven men sent by the voters of Portland, ME, to represent them in the ME State House during the 1915-16 biennium.

Luther B. and Nellie C. (Berry) Roberts moved back to Milton Mills, circa 1917, where they took up residence with his sister-in-law, Augusta M. Berry.

THE SUANTERER. “What has become of Luther B. Roberts?” asked the Saunterer of George T. Means the other day. “For the past two years” said Mr. Means, “Luther has been living on a farm owned by an aunt of his in Milton Mills, N.H. This is a post village on a branch of the Salmon Falls River, about 24 miles north of Dover. Of course you remember that 30 years ago Luther was one of the leading Democrats of this City. He was chairman of the Democratic Club committee in 1892, the year D.H. Ingraham was elected mayor. Later he was a member of the common council from Ward Four. But his business gradually slipped away from him and no doubt he was glad to accept the proposal of his aunt to take charge of her farm. Naturally the property will come into Mr. Robert’s possession some day” (Portland Sunday Telegram (Portland, ME), August 17, 1919).

Agusta M. Berry, aged eighty-four years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the tie of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. Her household included her brother-in-law, Luther B. Roberts, aged seventy-four years (b. ME), and her sister, Nellie C. [(Berry)] Roberts, aged seventy-five years (b. NH). Agusta M. Berry owned their house on Main Street, free-and-clear. Their household appeared between those of Frank H. Whipple, a blacksmith, aged thirty years (b. MA), and Loring W. Pillsbury, a woolen mill carpenter, aged twenty-seven years (b. ME).

William H. Wood, a furs broker, aged thirty-four years (b. NY), headed a Manhattan, New York, NY, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Eva R. [(Roberts)] Wood, aged thirty-six years (b. NH), and his children, William R. Wood, aged six years (b. NY), and Janice A. Wood, aged three years (b. NY). William H. Wood rented their house.

Sister-in-law M. Augusta Berry died of chronic interstitial nephritis on Main Street in Milton Mills, January 10, 1923, aged eighty-seven years, eight months, and eighteen days. Frank S. Weeks, M.D., signed the death certificate.

A Milton Mills house owned by Luther B. Roberts was one of six that burned down in the early hours of Thursday, November 20, 1924. (See Milton in the News – 1924).

Luther B. Roberts, of Milton Mills, and William P. Farnham, of Lynn, MA, both attended the Battle of Bunker Hill sesquicentennial celebrations. Their grandfathers had participated in the battle. (See Milton in the News – 1925).

Luther B. and Clara E. (Berry) Roberts were both sick in bed when rescued from the fire that destroyed their 2½-story Milton Mills house in March 1930. (See Milton in the News – 1930).

SANBORNVILLE. The Misses Goldie and Pauline Elliott recently were in Milton Mills to visit the scene of the Luther Roberts fire. We are very sorry for this aged couple. They have many friends in this village (Farmington News, April 4, 1930).

Luther B. Roberts, retired, aged eighty-four years (b. ME), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Clara E. [(Berry)] Roberts, aged eighty-seven years (b. NH). Luther B. Roberts owned their house on Main Street, which was valued at $2,000. They did not have a radio set. Their household appeared between those of Fred H. Simes, a woolen mill superintendent, aged sixty-two years (b. NH), and Mary E. Clark, a private family housewife, aged fifty-nine years (b. NY).

William H. Wood, a hatter’s weaver, aged forty-four years (b. NH), headed a Scarsdale, NY, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Eva R. [(Roberts)] Wood, a housewife, aged forty-one years (b. ME), and his children, William R. Wood, aged sixteen years (b. NY), and Janice A. Wood, aged fourteen years (b. NY). Eva R. Woods owned their house at 101 Greenacres Avenue, which was valued at $50,000. They had a radio set.

Brother-in-law Charles J. Berry died in Milton, March 17, 1933, aged ninety-six years. (See Milton in the News – 1933).

Luther B. Roberts died in Milton Mills, August 5, 1933, aged eighty-seven years.

Former Member of Legislature Dead. Luther B. Roberts, 87, formerly of Portland, from which he was Representative to the State Legislature in 1915-16, died Saturday at his home in Milton Mills, N.H. He was a grandson of John Roberts, who fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill. He was born in Waterboro, Sept. 13, 1845, and married Miss Nellie C. Berry 25 years later. In 1878 he was member of the New Hampshire Legislature. Mr. Roberts came to Portland more than 55 years ago and resided here over 40 years, being engaged in insurance and real estate work. He was a member of the Common Council of Portland in 1900-01 and again in 1905-06. Before leaving this City some 15 years ago he was member of the executive committee, the Thomas Brackett Reed Memorial Association, and was affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and Masons. Funeral services will be at his residence at 2 p.m. Tuesday (Portland Evening Express (Portland, ME), August 7, 1933).

MILTON MILLS. Mrs. Nellie Roberts fell, cutting her head (Sanford Tribune (Biddeford, ME), July 7, 1938).

Clara Ellen “Nellie” (Berry) Roberts died of broncho-pneumonia in Milton Mills, August 23, 1938, aged ninety-four years, four months, and twenty-one years. She was a lifelong resident, except for forty years. P.A. Kimball, M.D. signed the death certificate.

Eva [(Roberts)] Wood, aged fifty-four years (b. ME), headed a Yonkers, NY, household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. Her household included her son, William R. Wood, a salesman, aged twenty-six years (b. NY), and her son [daughter], James [Janice] Wood, a private secretary, aged twenty-four years (b. NY). Eva Wood rented their apartment at 26 W. Pondfield Road, for $73 per month. They had all resided in the “same house” in April 1935.

Eva R. [(Roberts)] Wood, aged sixty-eight years (b. ME), headed a Yonkers, NY, household at the time of the Sixteenth (1950) Federal Census. She was divorced and resided in an apartment at 949 Palmer Avenue.

Daughter Eva J. (Roberts) Wood died of a myocardial infarction in the Texas Christian Nursing Home in Houston, TX, March 18, 1964, aged eighty-two years. She had resided there for ten years.

Former son-in-law William H. Wood died in Houston, TX, January 3, 1982.

References:

Find a Grave. (2018, April 26). Maj. Charles J. Berry. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/189182567/charles-jewett-berry

Find a Grave. (2013, August 12). James Berry. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115349770/james-berry

Find a Grave. (2013, August 12). Mary A. [Augusta] Berry. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115349918/mary-a-berry

Find a Grave. (2014, August 10). Maj. Jeremiah Roberts. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/134126523/jere-roberts

Find a Grave. (2013, August 13). Luther B. Roberts. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115578547/luther-b-roberts

NH General Court. (1878). Journals of the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the State of New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=CuM3AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA227

By Muriel Bristol | August 6, 2023

George E. Simes was born in Milton Mills, April 23, 1832, son of Bray U. and Martha (Spinney) Simes.

George E. Simes married, in 1857, Anna E. Lowe. She was born in Newfield, ME, November 24, 1838, daughter of Phineas and Elizabeth (Shaw) Lowe.

(The known children of George E. and Anna E. (Lowe) Simes were: Charles Frederick Simes (1858-1928), and Albert Leonard Simes (1877-1948)).

Son Charles Frederick Simes was born in Milton Mills, April 28, 1858.

George Simes, a house carpenter, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills P.O.”) household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Ann [(Lowe)] Simes, aged twenty years (b. NH), Charles Simes, aged one year (b. NH), Edward Simes, a house carpenter, aged eighteen years (b. NH), and Shadrach Simes, a house carpenter, aged sixteen years (b. NH). George Simes had real estate valued at $500 and personal estate valued at $200. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of B.U. Simes, a merchant, aged fifty-nine years (b. NH), and William Simes, a house carpenter, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH).

George E. Simes appeared in the NH Business Directory of 1868, as a Milton carpenter and builder.

Frank H. Chesley, spinner in woolen mill, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Malvester [(Butler)] Chesley, keeping house, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), Auther Chesley, aged eight months (b. NH), George E. Simes, a carpenter, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH), Ann E. [(Lowe)] Simes, keeping house, aged thirty-two years (b. ME), and Charles F. Simes, at school, aged twelve years (b. NH). George E. Simes had real estate valued at $1,500 and personal estate valued at $400. Frank H. Chesley had personal estate valued at $350. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Ezra Farnham, a teamster, aged thirty-eight years (b. ME), and Josiah W. Gerrish, a stone mason, aged forty-five years (b. ME).

Milton sent George E. Simes and Charles C. Hayes to Concord, NH, as its NH State Representatives for the 1874-74 biennium. Rep. Simes was assigned to the Committee on Retrenchment and Reform.

Son Albert Leonard Simes was born in Milton Mills, March 7, 1877.

George E. Simes, a carpenter, aged forty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills Village”) household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Ann E. [(Lowe)] Simes, a housekeeper, aged forty-one years (b. ME), and his sons, Charles F. Simes, sells sewing machines, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), and Albert L. Simes, at home, aged three years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Charles T. Haines, a spinner in woolen mill, aged forty-nine years (b. VT), and [brother,] John U. Simes, a trader, aged forty-three years (b. NH).

Son Charles F. Simes married in Taunton, MA, October 4, 1882, Anna Clifton Burbank, he of Chelsea, MA, and she of Taunton, MA. He was a superintendent, aged twenty-four years, and she was aged twenty-four years. Edward N. Pomeroy performed the ceremony. She was born in Taunton, MA, in 1858, daughter of Henry and Lucretia Burbank.

MARRIED. In Taunton, 4th, Charles F. Simes of Chelsea, to Anna Burbank of Taunton; Walter R. Townsend to Grace E. Rounds (Fall River Daily Evening News (Fall River, MA), October 6, 1882).

Son Albert L. Simes married, circa 1897, Josephine Ella Miller. She was born in Milton Mills, August 5, 1880, daughter of Elias L. and Mary J. (Pinkham) Miller.

George E. Simes, a carpenter, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills Village”) household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of forty-three years), Ann E. [(Lowe)] Simes, aged sixty-one years (b. ME). Ann E. Simes was the mother of two children, of whom two were still living. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of [his brother,] John U. Simes, a dealer in wood, aged sixty-three years (b. NH), and Oscar F. Marsh, a blanket finisher, aged fifty-four years (b. NH).

Charles F. Simes, a confectioner, aged forty-two years (b. NH), headed a Somerville, MA, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of seventeen years), Anna B. [(Burbank)] Simes, aged forty-two years (b. MA), his daughters, Maud Simes, at school, aged fourteen years (b. MA), and Marjorie Simes, at school, aged six years (b. MA), and his servant, Ellen Johnson, aged twenty-five years (b. Sweden). Charles F. Simes owned their house at 53 Dartmouth Street, free-and-clear. Anna B. Burbank was the mother of two children, of whom two were still living.

Elias Miller, a farmer, aged seventy-five years (b. ME), headed an Acton, ME, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty-seven years), Mary J. [(Pinkham)] Miller, aged fifty-two years (b. NH), his son, Charles Miller, a farm laborer, aged thirty-six years (b. ME), his son-in-law (of two years), Albert L. Sims, a shoe shop stitcher, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), and his daughter, Josie E. [(Miller)] Sims, aged nineteen years (b. NH). Elias Miller owned their house, free-and-clear. Mary J. Miller was the mother of six children, of whom five were still living.

George E. Simes appeared in the Milton directories of 1902, 1905, 1909, and 1912, as a carpenter, with his house at 18 Church street, Milton Mills. His son, Albert L. Simes appeared in 1902 and 1905, as a laborer, boarding at 22 French street, Acton side, Milton Mills. He appeared in 1909, as a laborer, boarding at 18 Church street, Milton Mills, and he appeared in 1912, as a shoe operative, boarding at 18 Church street, Milton Mills.

Ann E. (Lowe) Simes died of apoplexy in Milton Mills, February 26, 1905, aged sixty-six years, three months, and two days. H.E. Anderson, M.D., signed the death certificate.

NEW ENGLAND CONFECTIONERS CLUB. There was an unusually large attendance at the first fall meeting, which also was the annual business one, of the New England Confectioners Club, held at Young’s Hotel, Boston, Wednesday evening October 17th. The executive committee considered business matters while members were gathering for the dinner, to which the evening chiefly is always given over, at these meetings. An orchestra played music while dinner was served. The retiring president Charles F. Simes of Cambridge presided (Confectioners’ and Bakers’ Gazette. November 10, 1906).

MILTON MILLS, N.H. Isaac Allbee has moved over the river into the house owned by L. Dureau of Sanford and Mrs. Mary Miller, who has been living with her daughter, Mrs. Albert Simes, will resume housekeeping in the tenement over the Broggi store, vacated by Mr. Allbee (Sanford Journal (Biddeford, ME), May 31, 1907).

MAINLY ABOUT CONFECTIONERS. Miss Maude Simes, the daughter Charles F. Simes, president of the Imperial Chocolates Company, Cambridge, Mass., is to be numbered among the group of bridesmaids at a fashionable wedding to place in the Winter Hill Congregational Church in Somerville, early this month, where the family of Mr. Simes attended worship, when they resided Somerville. They now make their home in Brookline (Confectioners’ and Bakers’ Gazette. June 10, 1907).

WEDDED 25 YEARS. Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Simes are Pleasantly Remembered. Last evening at their new residence, 1120 Beacon st., Mr. and Mrs. Charles Frederick Simes observed the 25th anniversary of their marriage. They were assisted in receiving by their daughters, Miss Maude and Miss Marjory Simes, by Mrs. Simes’ mother, Mrs. Burbank. and by her brother, Mr. Burbank. Henry Higgins. Dr. John Warren Ball, S. Boyd Darling and H. Brooks Crosby were the ushers. Mr. and Mrs. Simes were the recipients of a large number of presents (Boston Globe, October 5, 1907).

TABLE GOSSIP. Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Simes of Brookline announce the engagement of their daughter, Maude Burbank, to Mr. Robert Hatch Harding of Portsmouth, N.H., Dartmouth ’05, Harvard law school ’08 (Boston Globe, January 17, 1909).

George E. Simes, an odd jobs carpenter, aged seventy-seven years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills”) household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his son, Albert L. Simes, a woolen mills operator, aged thirty-three years (b. NH), his daughter-in-law (of twelve years), Josie [(Miller)] Simes, aged twenty-nine years (b. ME), his granddaughter, Alberta Simes, aged ten years (b. ME), and his boarders, Mary J. [(Pinkham)] Miller, aged sixty-two years (b. ME), and Charles Miller, an odd jobs laborer, aged thirty-six years (b. ME). George E. Simes owned their house, free-and-clear. Josie Miller was the mother of one child, of whom one was still living. Mary J. Miller was the mother of six children, of whom five were still living. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of John C. Townsend, a general farm farmer, aged thirty-eight years (b. MN), and Edward J. Witham, an odd jobs laborer, aged twenty-eight years (b. ME).

Charles F. Simes, wholesale (con. goods), aged fifty-one years (b. NH), headed a Brookline, MA, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-five years), Anna C. [(Burbank)] Simes, aged fifty-one years (b. MA), and his daughter, Marjorie E. Simes, aged seventeen years (b. MA). Charles F. Simes rented their house on Beacon Street. Anna C. Burbank was the mother of two children, of whom two were still living.

Novel Features at Wedding of Miss Marjorie Simes and Ralph Nickerson – Will Go on Auto Tour. A wedding that was characterized by unique features took place last evening in the Grecian ball room at Hotel Somerset, the bride being Miss Marjorie Ellis Simes and the groom Ralph D. Nickerson. The bride’s parents are Mr. and Mrs. Charles Simes of 180 St. Paul st., Brookline, and the groom is a son of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Nickerson of 31 Winchester st., the same town. The ceremony was performed at 8 p.m. by Rev. Thomas Van Ness of the Second Church, Copley sq. The bride wore white duchesse satin trimmed with old point lace, a tulle veil and old point lace cap crowned with orange blossoms. Her bouquet was of lilies of the valley. A sister of the bride, Mrs. Robert H. Harding of Allston, was maid of honor. Her gown was of bordered cream chiffon over yellow satin, trimmed with duchesse point lace. She carried a shoulder basket filled with tea roses. Of the bridesmaids, Misses Gladys Hayden of Dorchester, Gertrude Arnold of Hyde Park and Pauline Conant of Somerville, wore yellow de chine trimmed with shadow lace and rose chiffon. Misses Gladys Wales of Newtonville, Ruth Spindler of Council Bluffs, Ia., and Caroline B. Bentley of Somerville wore lavender gowns of similar design. Each carried a bouquet of sweet peas. A brother of the groom, William H. Nickerson, was best man and the ushers were H. Russell Burbank of Providence, Julian Leonard of Middleboro, Walton White of Wakefield, G.W. Aldrich, Jr., of Rochester, N.Y. E.C. Cottle of Winchester and Earl Arnold of Stoneham. A novelty in the ceremonial was the way in which the procession moved up the aisle toward the altar, improvised of Southern huckleberry vine and white field daisies. To the march from “Lohengrin,” the ushers and bridesmaids, paired off together, advanced, each having hold of a long white ribbon. which was borne along by all in common till the foremost had reached the altar. Then the ushers and bridesmaids stopped and faced each other on each side the aisle, the ribbons which they held forming a double barrier extending from the door to the altar. Through this passage advanced the groom and best man, the maid of honor and the bride and her father, who gave her away. As soon as the principals in the ceremony had passed the bridesmaids and ushers dropped the streamers and ranged themselves in a semicircle on each side of the altar, while the streamers were drawn forth through the door. A reception, collation and finally a dance followed the ceremony in the ballroom, which was beautifully adorned with palms, ferns, lavender, sweet peas and yellow marguerites. The bride and groom were assisted in receiving by their parents. Mrs. Simes wore brocaded satin, with marquisette draperies and pearl garniture. Mrs. Nickerson wore lavender crepe meteor, with lace paniers. Each carried a bouquet of sweet peas to match her gown. On their return from a trip through the White Mountain region in their automobile, Mr. and Mrs. Nickerson will pass the Summer at the Simes country place at North Falmouth (Boston Globe, June 2, 1912).

George E. Simes died of acute interstitial nephritis in Milton Mills, November 14, 1914, aged eighty-two years, aged eighty-two years, two months, and fourteen days. He was a carpenter. H.E. Anderson, M.D., signed the death certificate.

Albert L. Simes received $9.78 for his Rockingham County jury service, February 20, 1917 (Rockingham County, 1918).

Charles F. Simes, a manufacturer (confectionary), aged sixty-one years (b. NH), was a lodger at 62 Boylston Street in Boston, MA, at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census.

Albert L. Simes, a woolen mill spinner, aged forty-two years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Josephine E. [(Miller)] Simes, a woolen mill weaver, aged thirty-nine years (b. NH), and his mother-in-law, Mary J. [(Pinkham)] Miller, aged seventy-one years (b. NH). Albert L. Simes owned their house on Church Street, free-and-clear. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Eda B. [(Lowd)] Townsend, a widow, aged forty-eight years (b. ME), and Grace M. [(Townsend)] Townsend, a widow, aged forty-five years (b. NH).

THE NEWS OF THE MONTH. ARRANGEMENTS have been practically completed whereby H.D. Foss & Co. of Boston, manufacturers of high-grade chocolate confections, will consolidate with the Boston Confectionery Co. of Cambridge, who manufacture several lines of goods. The consolidated business will be as H.D. Foss & Co., Inc. In the near future Boston firm will move to the Cambridge factory, which is a large, up-to-date plant, and of sufficient size for the combined businesses. All brands of both houses will be continued and distributed as in the past. The officers of the new organization will be Herbert D. Foss, President; Charles F. Simes, Vice President; and Charles D. Rice, Treasurer (Confectioners Journal, August 1921).

Son Charles F. Simes died of chronic myocarditis at Alden Park Manor in Philadelphia, PA, August 21, 1928, aged seventy years, three months, and twenty-three days. He was a confectioner. W. Lawrence Cahill, M.D., signed the death certificate.

CHARLES F. SIMES. Charles F. Simes died in Philadelphia Tuesday after a brief illness. He was born in Milton Mills, on April 29, 1858. He came to Boston as a boy and learned his trade with the Forbes-Haywood Company. He has been prominently connected with the candy business In Boston for 47 years. He was past president of the National Confectioners Association, past president of the Confectioners Club of Boston and a member of Soley Lodge, A.F. & A.M., Somerville. He leaves a wife, Anna Burbank Simes; two daughters, Mrs. Robert H. Harding and Mrs. Ralph D. Nickerson, and a brother, Albert Simes. The funeral will take place this afternoon at 2:30 at 32 Barnum st., Taunton (Boston Globe, August 23, 1928).

Anna C. [(Burbank)] Simes, a widow, aged seventy-two years (b. ME), was a lodger at the Riverbank Hotel, at 305 Memorial Drive in Cambridge, MA, at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census.

Albert Simes, a shoe factory operative, aged fifty-three years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty-two years), Josephine [(Miller)] Simes, a shoe factory operative, aged forty-nine years (b. NH). Albert Simes owned their house on Church Street, which was valued at $1,500. They had a radio set. Their house appeared in the enumeration between those of Annie Reynolds, a widow, aged sixty-eight years (b. NH), and Richard Ayer, an automobile painter, aged forty-five years (b. ME).

Daughter-in-law Anna C. (Burbank) Simes died in 1939.

Albert Simes, a shoe factory machinist, aged sixty-two years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Josephine [(Miller)] Simes, a shoe factory stitcher, aged sixty years (b. NH). Albert Simes owned their house on Church Street, which was valued at $2,500. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Grace M. [(Townsend)] Townsend, a widow, aged sixty-five years (b. NH), and Mildred Valley, a widow, aged thirty-nine years (b. NH).

Son Albert L. Simes died of acute circulatory failure on Church Street in Milton Mills, December 16, 1948, aged seventy-one years, nine months, and nine days. Charles E. Mooers, M.D., signed the death certificate.

Josie E. [(Miller)] Simes, a widow, aged sixty-nine years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventeenth (1950) Federal Census. She had received $600 in “interest, dividends, veteran’s allowances, pensions, rents, or other income,” in the previous year (1949).

Daughter-in-law Josephine E. (Miller) Simes died of a cerebral hemorrhage at Frisbie Hospital in Rochester, NH, October 30, 1954, aged seventy-four years. Charles E. Moors, M.D., signed the death certificate.

Milton Mills. Mrs. Josie Simes. Mrs. Josie Simes, 74, widow of Albert Simes, died Saturday at the Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester. She was the daughter of the late Elias and Mary Miller of Acton. Funeral services were held in the Methodist Church, Tuesday afternoon. Interment was in the local cemetery (Sanford, Journal (Biddeford, ME), November 4, 1954).

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References:

Find a Grave. (2013, August 17). Albert L. Simes. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115611953/albert-l-simes

Find a Grave. (2013, August 17). George E. Simes. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115612433/george-e-simes

NH General Court. (1874). Journals of the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=OOA3AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA618

NH General Court. (1875). Journals of the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=-ptIAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA149

PA Dept. of Agriculture. (1914). What Should Be the Relation Between Food Manufacturers and Food Commissioners. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=BpCi7d4TGH0C&pg=RA3-PA16

Rockingham County. (1918). Reports of the County Commissioners, Superintendent of County Farm and House of Correction, Physician and Chaplain, Sheriff and Jailer, Solicitor, Clerk of the Superior Court, and County Treasurer of Rockingham County, New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=MlIq0GQiIZ0C&pg=RA1-PA166

By Muriel Bristol | July 30, 2023

Ambrose H. Wentworth was born in Middleton, NH, July 7, 1832, son of Ebenezer, Jr., and Sophia (Roberts) Wentworth.

Ebenezer Wentworth, a farmer, aged sixty-three years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Sophia [(Roberts)] Wentworth, aged fifty-seven years (b. NH), John Wentworth, a shoemaker, aged thirty years (b. NH), Ambrosse Wentworth, a shoemaker, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH), E.P. [Eli Plummer] Wentworth, a shoemaker, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), and L.H. [Luther H.] Wentworth, aged fifteen years (b. NH). Ebenezer Wentworth had real estate valued at $3,500 and personal estate valued at $1,000. John Wentworth had personal estate valued at $500; Ambrosse Wentworth had personal estate valued at $300; and E.P. Wentworth had personal estate valued at $400. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Ira F. Howe, a farmer, aged fifty-four years (b. NH), and Mary A. Wakeham, aged thirty-five years (b. NH).

Milton sent Ambrose H. Wentworth and Thomas H. Roberts to Concord, NH, as its NH State Representatives, for the 1865-66 biennium. During their biennium, they would vote on two proposed additions to the U.S. Constitution, the Thirteenth and Fourteenth amendments.

Ambrose H. Wentworth was assigned to Retrenchment and Reform Committee and Thomas H. Roberts was assigned to the Military Accounts Committee. They were allocated 105 miles for their travel allowance.

New Hampshire was the twenty-third state of the necessary twenty-seven state approvals necessary for ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

ARTICLE XIII. SECTION 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. SEC. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Rep. Roberts and Rep. Wentworth, both of Milton, were among the 215 NH House members [69.1%] that voted in favor of the Thirteenth Amendment, on Thursday, June 29, 1865, while another 96 NH House members [30.9%] voted against it. (Several absent members were permitted to add their votes, be they pro (2) or con (1), after the initial vote). Both houses of the NH General Court finalized their approvals by July 1, 1865. (Other states would add their approval to the Thirteenth Amendment after its ratification, some as late as 1995).

A year later, New Hampshire was the second state of the twenty-eight state approvals necessary for ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

ARTICLE XIV. Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State. Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability. Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void. Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

Rep. Roberts and Rep. Wentworth, both of Milton, were among the 207 NH House members [64.9%] that voted in favor of the Fourteenth Amendment, on Thursday, June 28, 1866, while another 112 NH House members [35.1%] voted against it. Both houses of the NH General Court finalized their approvals by July 6, 1866. (Other states would add their approval to the Fourteenth Amendment after its ratification, some as late as 2003).

On Friday, June 29, 1866, Rep. S.G. [Brig. Gen. Simon G.] Griffin (1824-1902) of Keene, NH, from the Military Affairs Committee, presented a petition seeking to authorize towns to “equalize” enlistment bounties. (Some towns had outbid others during recruiting). He moved that it should be ruled inexpedient to legislate (ITL). Rep. Isaac Adams (1802-1883) of Sandwich, NH, moved the alternative that it should be recommitted to the Military Affairs Committee in order that they might produce a bill on the subject. In the roll call vote that followed. Rep. Roberts and Rep. Wentworth, both of Milton, were among the minority of 97 members [43.3%] that voted to recommit, as opposed to the majority of 127 members [56.7%] that voted not to recommit.

On Friday, July 6, 1866, Rep. Alvah M. Kimball (1829-1869) of Rochester, NH, moved that a committee report on spiritous liquors, which recommended indefinite postponement of sundry petitions and bills related to the subject, be accepted. Rep. Roberts and Rep. Wentworth, both of Milton, were among the minority of 102 members [42.1%] that voted to accept the report, as opposed to the majority of 140 members [57.9%] that voted not to accept the report.

Ebenezer Wentworth, a farmer, aged seventy-two years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Sophia [(Roberts)] Wentworth, keeping house, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH), Ambrose H. Wentworth, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH), William E. Goodwin, aged sixteen years (b. NH), Ellen A. Corson, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), and Ralf S. Corson, aged four months (b. NH). Ebenezer Wentworth had real estate valued at $2,500 and personal estate valued at $1,075. Sophia Wentworth had personal estate valued at $500; Ambrose H. Wentworth had personal estate valued at $2,200. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Samuel Sanborn, a farm laborer, aged seventy-four years (b. ME), and Ira F. Howe, a farmer, aged sixty-three years (b. NH).

Father Ebenezer Wentworth died of a spinal complaint in Milton, April 24, 1874, aged seventy-six years, ten months. (The original death certificate had a bracketed question mark next to the 1874).

Brother John W. Wentworth died of consumption in Haverhill, MA, July 1, 1877, aged forty-seven years, twenty-two days. He was a married shoe cutter.

Luther H. Wentworth, a traveling agent, aged thirty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his son, Randolph Wentworth, aged nine years (b. MA). (Luther H. Wentworth was divorced). They shared a two-family residence with the household of Ambrose H. Wentworth, a farmer, aged forty-eight years (b. NH), who headed the other portion of the two-family residence. His household included his mother, Sophia [(Roberts)] Wentworth, a widow, aged seventy-seven years (b. NH). She had rheumatism. This two-family residence appeared in the enumeration between the household of Mary A. Varney, keeping house, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), and Thomas J. Howe, a farmer, aged forty-eight years (b. NH).

Mother Sophia (Roberts) Wentworth died in Milton, August 16, 1883, aged eighty years, three months.

DEATHS. In West Milton, August 16, after years of suffering, Sophia, widow of the late Ebenezer Wentworth, aged 8o years, 3 mos. (Farmington News, August 24, 1883).

Hiram Barker (1815-1887) died of paralysis in Farmington, NH, March 26, 1887, aged seventy-one years, three months, and five days. His last will was challenged over the issue of whether or not his mind had been sound when he made his last will. Ambrose Wentworth was one of a number of witnesses who testified in January 1888.

BARKER WILL CASE. … Ambrose Wentworth. I live in Milton. Have known Hiram Barker from my boyhood and the son [Hiram Henry Barker (1851-1915)] since he was three years old. My first intimacy with the father was due to my love of learning. My debative powers led him to solicit my society. Mr. Barker used to come to my store frequently and converse with me about his son. He told me there was no one who could care for his son so well as I. Hiram wanted me to induce his son to go to school. He once said to me that these saloons were tending to injure his son. That “he is sure to be a drunkard as the waters are to run down hill. I have had at least a hundred conversations with the elder Barker. He had a “chronic fear” that his son would be a drunkard. I have no knowledge at all of young Hiram’s drinking. The son seemed perfectly diligent in business. The son was closer than his father, and I told him so. I once told his father that his son never drank half as much as those democratic members of congress which he used to talk about. I asked his father if he saw the evils of liquor in his family? He said, “no, no, no, not that.” He said he used his influence to have the son arrested in order to benefit him when influenced by liquor. Hiram has called me in and consulted about spiritualism. It was after his wife’s death [in 1880]. He said a Boston medium told him that his wife wanted him to build a tomb. He said, “Ambrose, I am going to heed this voice. I am going to build this tomb because of the mighty influence which I have heard from Boston.” He once told me he had hot flashes in his brain and prickly sensations in his limbs. Asked me what I thought of them? I told him the symptoms of my father. I went to his office once and paid a note due from my brother-in-law. He could not cast the interest. Said he was growing worse, and laid it to tobacco. Once told me that he had tried to leave off tobacco, but had a terrible fright. He once told me, “You are happier than I.” I once told him I considered him wrong. A hundred times he called me into his office and talked to me upon that most delicate and wonderful subject of spiritualism. He believed in it. [Witness still on the stand when going to press]. (Farmington News, January 6, 1888).

LOCALS. Cyrus Elkins purchased a pair of work horses in Boston last week. He has the contract to haul the wood from the Ambrose Wentworth lot to the depot (Farmington News, October 26, 1888).

WEST MILTON. Summer travellers have returned to their homes, excepting Mr. and Mrs. Luther Wentworth, who are still rusticating in the Green Mountain region, while Wentworth Farm is under the control of Mr. Ambrose Wentworth, who has been receiving a visit from Mr. John Wakeham (Farmington News, October 28, 1892).

LOCALS. Mr. Wilder has been visiting his friend, Ambrose Wentworth at West Milton (Farmington News, April 6, 1894).

Ambrose H. Wentworth, a farmer, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his brother, Luther H. Wentworth, a commercial traveler, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), and his sister-in-law (of seven years), Flora N. [(Nelson)] Wentworth, aged forty-five years (b. VT). Ambrose H. Wentworth owned their farm, free-and-clear. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Edwin Kenney, a carriage dealer, aged sixty-two years (b. ME), and J. William Harriman, a farmer, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH).

WEST MILTON. Ambrose Wentworth, who broke his ankle so badly about New Year’s, is not yet able to be up. A troublesome abrasion where the bone cut through, and his age, have retarded his recovery, but improvement is perceptible week by week (Farmington News, March 15, 1901).

WEST MILTON. L.H. Wentworth and wife have moved to their new home in Farmington. Ambrose Wentworth, who has been a lifelong resident of Milton, will make his home with them (Farmington News, November 28, 1902).

PERSONAL. Mr. Ambrose Wentworth, who has been confined to his bed for the past month, is able to be about the house (Farmington News, May 29, 1903).

PERSONAL. Ambrose Wentworth was 74 years old Saturday. Since January 1st, when he became partially paralyzed, he has not left his bed, but can feed himself, and enjoys his pipe and newspaper (Farmington News, July 13, 1906).

LOCAL. Ambrose Wentworth of North Main street, who has not been dressed since he experienced a paralytic shock Jan. 1, ’07, was 77 years old the seventh of this month no says he feels as well as ever, although eyes, ears and teeth are failing. His appetite is good, and this eccentric bachelor who is a “two mealer” finds digestion still perfect (Farmington News, July 23, 1909).

Luther H. Wentworth, a traveling salesman, aged sixty-five years (b. NH), headed a Farmington, NH, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Flora N. [(Nelson)] Wentworth, aged fifty-six years (b. VT), and his brother, Ambrose H. Wentworth, aged seventy-seven years (b. NH). Luther H. Wentworth owned their farm on North Main Street, free-and-clear. Flora N. Wentworth was the mother of two children, of whom zero were still living. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Frank W. Walsh, a shoe factory foreman, aged thirty-six years (b. NH), and William L. Barry, a bank bookkeeper, aged fifty-six years (b. NH).

Personal. Mr. Ambrose Wentworth entered on his 80th year July 7 (Farmington News, July 14, 1911).

Personal. Mrs. E. Plummer Wentworth of Haverhill, Mass., was recently in town to visit her brother-in-law, Ambrose Wentworth, who is failing in health (Farmington News, October 17, 1913).

Ambrose H. Wentworth died of old age in Farmington. NH, November 4, 1913, aged eighty-two years, three months, and twenty-seven days. He had resided there for ten years, i.e., since circa 1903, with his previous residence having been in Milton. P.H. Greeley, M.D., signed the death certificate.

West Milton. Many of the old friends and people of Ambrose Wentworth were saddened to learn of his death which occurred at his home in Farmington last week (Farmington News, November 14, 1913).

Brother Luther H. Wentworth died of myocardial insufficiency at the NH State Hospital in Concord, NH, December 1, 1917, aged seventy-three years, and thirteen days.

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References:

Find a Grave. (2014, September 21). Hiram Barker. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/136232079/hiram-barker

NH General Court. (1866). Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of New-Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=szgtAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA5

By Muriel Bristol | July 23, 2023

Continued from Milton Mills Sketch of 1911 – 2

Asa A. Fox lost his Milton Mills grocery store to a fire in March 1876. The local Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) society rented his store’s second floor as their meeting hall and lost everything. (See Milton in the News – 1876).

THE NEW ODD FELLOWS BLOCK. For some time the project of acquiring the land and the old Congregational church building had been talked of by the members of the Miltonia Lodge of Odd Fellows No. 52, but the business was not completed until Tuesday, April 19, of last year. The land on which the church set was given to the society by the late John Nutter with the provision that if the church should be used for other purposes the land should revert to him or his heirs. The committee from the lodge first had to make arrangements with the heirs and then with the pew owners. There were a few of those whose memory of it as a sacred place and the church home of their youth, made them hesitate about selling their holdings; but the evident fact that its days as a church were numbered, and that it would be made good use of if the Odd Fellows owned it, backed up by generous offerings from the lodge committee, finally induced all to consent to the sale.
The structure has been completely remodeled inside. There are lodge and suitable ante rooms on the upper floor and down stairs is a reception room, banquet hall and modernly equipped cuisine. The Miltonia Lodge of Odd Fellows will have the credit of improving the looks of the village and furnishing the society with as good a home as possessed by any lodge in the county. The name Miltonia, that has been given to this lodge, and is also the name of the mills, would make an appropriate one for village and it is within the possibilities that eventually it will be so called.

ASA A. FOX. Undertaker. One of the occupations or professions that require peculiar and special qualifications is that of undertaker. To enter the home where his services are needed and carry the feelings and manner that will lighten the sorrows of the inmates who have suffered loss, is one of the requirements of the profession. It is not necessary that the undertaker mourn with the afflicted family but it is well that he should have a natural appreciation of the situation and be able to show it in his every act without dissimulation. We have been moved to mention these things because they are the natural qualities of Mr. Asa A. Fox who has been the undertaker in Milton Mills for twenty-seven years, and have distinguished him in his line of work. Mr. Fox was born in Milton Mills being the son of the late Asa Fox and knows intimately all the people there and in the surrounding towns and is by nature kindly-hearted and sympathetic. Long before the business became his profession he was among the first to render assistance to those whose homes had been visited by death.
Mr. Fox early in life learned the carpenter’s trade and for six years worked at that business in Lawrence and Brookline, Mass. After returning to Milton Mills he acted as express messenger between Rochester and Union when the railroad terminated as [at] that town. He filled that position for three and a half years. After that he conducted a clothing manufacturing business and also a general store. That was in the building that was burned in 1885 [1876] on the site where the Central block is now located. He built that block and later sold it to the late Henry H. Townsand.
Previous to that he had given some study to the undertaking business and was able to pass examination in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. He is a licensed embalmer in the three states and can answer any calls in them and has business in them all. Notwithstanding the fact that he is located in a small village his equipment is equal to that of the larger establishments and his rolling stock is not excelled by any in the State. He is assisted by his son, Charles D. Fox, who is thoroughly proficient in the business. He has passed his examinations in Maine and New Hampshire with the highest degree in rank. He is president of the Undertakers’ Association of New Hampshire and belongs to several secret orders.
Mr. Fox, senior, has been interested in civic affairs all his life and has been selectman of the town and in 1880 represented this class in the legislature. He was also deputy sheriff for nine years. Mr. Fox is in the truest sense a useful man whose sense of the duties and privileges of life have led him to associations that exemplify the fact. It may not be to his liking to have the matter mentioned here, but it seems fitting that mention should be made of the fact that he has invited the old persons of this and nearby villages to an annual dinner and social gathering which he has furnished at his beautiful home on School street. This custom has been six years in vogue and the enjoyment of the occasions is one of the pleasantest of each year. All persons over seventy years of age with attendants are included in the invitation. In contrast to this event Mr. Fox has several times invited the children to a May party and the event has been celebrated In the good old country style of a May pole with decorations, in bright colors, and children, overbrimming with joy, dancing around it. They were furnished a dinner and given a day of keenest enjoyment. These things are done by Mr. Fox as an expression of that natural disposition to make good use of the opportunities and favors that fortune has placed in his hands. He is the founder of the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias lodge in Milton Mills; belongs to the Grange and the United Workmen.

ASA FOX & SON. General Merchants. The firm of Asa Fox & Son has been intimately connected with the business and history of Milton Mills since 1834. At that period business was carried on in a way so different from the present methods that it would seem that there was hardly any connection between then and now; yet in this firm we have the evolved business of that period of time with all the elements of modernism and only the records and the memories of the days when there were but two shipments of goods received per year to recall the primitive system.
Mr. Elbridge Fox, who is now the senior member of the firm and is in partnership with his son, Everett F. Fox, began clerking in his father’s store when a small boy at the age of 16 was sent to Boston to buy the half-year’s stock of goods for the store. From that time to the present, he has been constantly engaged in business and has been, and is now, one of the most active men in business life on New Hampshire. The firm name has not changed from the time when it became Asa Fox & Son and the business is carried on on the same site, although new buildings have been erected. The original founder of the business died in 1887.
The junior partner was admitted to the firm when 21 years old. He is possessed of the sturdy qualities that made his father and grandfather successful men and in his turn is bearing the brunt of the hard work in the conduct of the business. He has been on the school board and is now town treasurer.
The business is that of a general country store – the stock consisting of groceries, dry and fancy goods, drugs and medicines, hardware and farming implements, furniture, and a variety of merchandise that belongs to stores of the kind. A larger or more varied stock of goods is not to be found in this section. As long as the oldest patron can remember the store has been headquarters for household supplies and will so continue for years to come.
It is a remarkable record but it is true that Mr. Elbridge W. Fox been in public life almost as long as he has been in private business. For forty-five years he has been county correspondent for the Department of Agriculture at Washington. He has held nearly every office within the gift of the town and other positions connected with the national and state governments. Since 1878 he has been supervisor of the check list (a state office in New Hampshire) and in 1899 to 1901 was a senator from the 12th district. He is a member of the Board of Health. From 1865 to 1885 he was postmaster. Mr. Fox has had an almost unequaled record in public service, yet he has never sought it and has been an unwilling official many times and has found the exactions hard, when private business demanded his constant attention. He is today in his seventy-seventh year, well, active and attending daily to his various interests, which extend beyond the bounds of the store.  It is a pleasure to meet and talk with a man of his character, whose memory and active service connect the past system of business with the present. He is thoroughly abreast of the present methods and appreciates the benefits of the changes that have come and in referring to the interesting ways of the old time traders, he is contrasting to show the vast improvement and is not, as now and then some men do, sighing for a return to “the good old days.”
The business standing of the firm has been of the highest possible character for many years and the personal estimate placed upon the individual members of it are of the same degree. They are public spirited and pleasant men in all the relations of life. The village of Milton Mills is well favored in the possession of such a firm and such citizens.

Concluded in Milton Mills Sketch of 1911 – 4

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References:

Find a Grave. (2013, July 31). Asa Fox. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114673689/asa-fox

Find a Grave. (2013, July 31). Asa Augustus Fox. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114695724/asa-augustus-fox

Find a Grave. (2013, July 31). Charles D. Fox. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114673535/charles-d-fox

Find a Grave. (2013, July 31). Elbridge Wood Fox. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114673509/elbridge-wood-fox

Find a Grave. (2013, August 4). Everett Fremont Fox. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114891790/everett-fremont-fox

Find a Grave. (2013, August 12). Henry H. Townsend. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115352239