Record of the Descendants of William Sumner, of Dorchester, Mass., 1636
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This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible. http://books.google.com RECORD OK THK DESCENDANTS OF WILLIAM SUMNER, OF DORCHESTER, MASS., 1636. BY WILLIAM SUMNER APPLETON. BOSTON: DAVID CI, APP Sc SON, PRINTERS. 1 8 7 9. (RECAP) INTRODUCTION. In i854 was printed, for Gen. William H. Sumner of Roxbury, a "Memoir of Increase Sumner, Governor of Massachusetts," to which was added a " Genealogy of the Sumner Family, by William B. Trask." Some additions were printed in the N. E. Historical and Genealogical Register, for October, i855. Mr. Trask was entirely competent to have prepared a genealogy, which would have made this present volume unnecessary ; but Gen. Sumner was willing only to have very limited researches made, concerning principally the branches most nearly related to his own. The " Genealogy" therefore is exceedingly imperfect, and so misleading as to cause one to sup pose the family a very small one ; and it was in consequence of this mistake that the present writer undertook the work, which has grown in progress to an extent never dreamt of, or it would probably not have been begun. Once under way, however, interest has kept pace with material, and I feel no regret for the time given to the work, or the trouble which has of necessity accompanied it. The family has been a fairly prominent one, though few of its mem bers have gained any special fame. One can however be justly proud of Gov. Increase Sumner and of Gen. Edwin V. Sumner, to say nothing of Senator Charles Sumner, whose connection with the family unfortunately was somewhat irregular. Perhaps the most remarkable fact in the family record is the number of Deacons and of Soldiers. Several took part in the disastrous expedition to Canada in i690, and there is a long roll of Revolutionary heroes. Of those who fought for the Union i86i--65, I have only noticed the dead and those living who held commissions, but there were many others. iv INTRODUCTION. I began long ago to keep all items relating to the family, old and new, and in i875 took up in earnest the work of perfecting the Gene alogy. I sent circulars to all of the name whose addresses I obtained, and have since then sent many more. I have found the various mem bers of the family generally ready and able to help, but am sorry to say that from some I have in vain sought information. For aid on many points and for facts relating to many branches I am especially indebted to Dr. Charles F. Sumner of Bolton, Conn., and Edward Sumner of Dedham, who have sent me numerous letters during the four years of my labors. Many others have aided me greatly in the record of their own lines, of whom I will only name Rev. John B. Sumner of Binghamton, N. Y., John A. Sumner of Middletown, Conn., Nor man Sumner of Atlanta, 1ll., Ebenezer Sumner of Upper Jay, N. Y., John Sumner of Newburyport, Alfred H. Sumner of Boston, Miss Harriet H. Sumner of Foxboro', Charles A. Sumner of Burlington, Vt., William P. Sumner of Calumet, Mich., Alonzo H. Sumner of Ilion, N. Y., Andrew J. Sumner of Milford, Earl W. Sumner of Darien, N. Y., Austin Sumner of Boston, and Mansfield Sumner of Middlebury, Ohio. The portrait of Rev. Dr. Joseph Sumner is pre sented by a descendant, George Sumner of Worcester. But all the information given by others would not have gone far to wards making the genealogy as full as it is (though even now by no means what I would like), without the time and trouble which I have myself given to the work, in travelling about New-England and examining the regular sources of genealogical knowledge, town-records, church- records, probate-records, graveyards, old newspapers, &c. I greatly regret the long chapter of additions and corrections," but only blame myself in respect of very few as responsible for their not being in the proper places. Most of them appear as they do, because my correspon dents only waked up too late to the fact that they really had something to communicate to me, and often it was only on seeing the proof-sheets that a person appreciated that I was in earnest in the work, and had but an imperfect account of his particular branch. In this is found the explanation of differing dates of birth attached to one man, and it may be taken as certain that the second represents later information, and is therefore more likely to be correct. INTRODUCTION. V The plan of the work is so simple as hardly to demand explanation. I have used very few abbreviations, — b., m. and d., for born, married and died, being pearly or quite all. The figures at the right of lines, after names of sons, denote the numbers by which the sons are carried on as heads of families in the next generation. I have no belief that the volume is free from mistakes, but think there is no line of descent to which any doubt can possibly be attached. I have no more addi tions, except that Edwin V. Sumner, 548, has been appointed and confirmed Major Fifth Cavalry U. S. A., and Samuel S. Sumner, 33S. viii., Major Eighth Cavalry U'. S. A. GENEALOGY. The principal family of the name of Sumner in this country is traced back to Roger Sumner of Bicester, Oxfordshire, England, husbandman. He married at Bicester 2 November, 1601, Joane Franklin, and died there 3 December, 1608 ; his widow married 10 January, 1611, Marcus Brian of Merton, a neighboring parish, who died in 1620. Roger Sumner had a brother William, who died at Bicester in 1597. The only child of Roger and Joane Sumner was William, of whom as follows : 2. II. William Sumner, born at Bicester in 1605, married there 22 October, 1625, Mary West ; came to New England* in 1636, and settled at Dorchester, Mass. He was made Freeman of the Colony 17 May, 1637, and at various times held many offices of respectable importance. He was a Selectman of Dorchester in 1637, and more than twenty other years. From 1663 to 1680 he was one of the Feoffees of the school land, and from 1663 to 1671 he was one of the Commissioners to try and issue small causes ; in 1663, he was also chosen clerk of the trained band. He was a Deputy from Dorchester to the General Court in 1658, 1666-70, '72, '78-81, '83-86 ; he does not, however, appear prominently on its records. His wife died at Dorchester 7 June, 1676, and he 9 December, 1688. Children : i. William, b. at Bicester. 3 ii. Joane, b. at Bicester ; m. Aaron Way of Dorchester, afterwards of Boston and Rumney Marsh; he died in 1695, and she went to South Carolina with two of her brothers in 1696. - iii. Roger, b. at Bicester in 1 632. 4 iv. George, b. at Bicester in 1634. 5 v. Samuel, b. at Dorchester 18 May, 1638. 6 vi. Increase, b. at Dorchester 23 February, 1643. 7 * William Sumner continued to own land at Bicester till 1650, as appears from a docu ment in possession of one of the family. 2 GENEALOGY OF THE THIRD GENERATION. 3. III. William Sumner, b. at Bicester, England ; m. Eliza beth, daughter of Augustine Clement of Dorchester ; was a mariner ; moved to Boston, where he died in February, 1675 ; his widow died before 1687. Children : i. Elizabeth, b. at Dorchester in 1652; m. in 1670, Joshua Henshaw of Dorchester ; d. in 1728 ; he d. in 1719. ii. Mary, b. at Dorchester in 1654; m. 19 January, 1672, Nicholas Howe of Roxbury, who d. before 1676, and she m. secondly John Trow; d. at Newport, R. I., 16 February, 1706. hi. "William, b. at Bostou 9 February, 1656. 8 iv. Hannah, b. at Boston 10 June, 1659; m. John Goffe of Boston; he d. 24 July, 1716. v. Sarah, b. at Boston 14 February, 1662; m. Turell, who d. before 1 695, and she m. secondly Joseph Weeks of Dorchester ; d. 12 February, 1736. vi. Experience, b. at Boston 22 September, 1664; m. Thomas Gould of Boston. vii. Ebenezer, b. at Boston 30 October, 1666; was a soldier in the Canada expedition of 1690, and undoubtedly lost. viii. Deliverance, b. at Boston 18 March, 1669; m. in May, 1689, Ebenezer Weeks of Dorchester. ix. Clement, b. at Boston 6 September, 1671. 9 x. Mercy, b. at Boston in January, 1675 ; d. young. 4. III. Soger Sumner, b. at Bicester, England, in 1632 ; m. Mary, daughter of Thomas Josselyn of Lancaster; was Freeman of the Colony of Massachusetts, 6 May, 1657 ; lived at Lancaster 1660-75 ; moved to Milton where he was admitted to the Church, with his wife, 20 November, 1681, and ordained Deacon 20 August, 1682 ; he died at Milton 26 May, 1698, and his widow 21 August, J711. Children: i. Abigail, b. at Dorchester 16 November, 1657 ; d. 19 February, 1658. ii. Samuel, b. at Dorchester 6 February, 1659. 10 iii. Waitstill, b. at Lancaster 20 December, 1661 ; m. 29 December, 1679, Manasseh Tucker of Milton; d. 19 March, 1748; he d, 8 April, 1743. iv. Mary, b. at Lancaster 5 August, 1665; ni. 10 June, 1688, Israel Nichols of Hingham. v. Jazaniah, b. at Lancaster 11 April, 1668; was a soldier in the Canada expedition of 1 690, and undoubtedly lost.