Rogers Family

HISTORICAL ACCOUNT

ROGERS FAMILY

FAIRHAVEN MASSACHUSETTS

COMPRISING ALSO BRIEF RECORDS OF THE CONNECTING FAMILIES OF

GIFFORD CUSHMAN HUDDLESTON DELANO AND MERRIHEW

' In records that defy the teeth of time."—EDWARD YOUNG.

LEONARD BOLLBS ELLIS

PR1VATELT PRINTED 1891 I3X

E. ANTHONY & SONS, Incorp., PRINTERS, NEW BEDFORD, MASS. PREFACE.

The aim of this book is simply to arrange in chrono logical order the genealogical and historical memoranda that have been gathered by the compiler in the few months allotted him for the work. More than this could not be well accomplished without exhaustive research, extending through years of patient labor. L. B. E. " Down to the Plymouth Bock, that hail hern to their feet ax a doorstep, Into a world unknown—the corner-stone of a nation^—LONGFELLOW.

THE ROGERS FAMILY.

Thomas Rogers and his son Joseph were passengers on board the Mayflower, which brought the Pilgrims from Delfthaven to New England in 1620. When they reached the coast, the Pilgrims realized that while they were loyal subjects of King James of England, who laid a general claim to the territory, they had no power delegated to them, nor even authority to enter the country. If they landed north of the limit of the Virginia Company, 41 degrees north latitude, they would lose such rights as they might claim from the patent of that company, and would thus place themselves beyond the pale of established authority. In this dilemma, the wisdom of the leaders came to their aid, and in the little cabin of the Mayflower, on that eventful day, November 11, 1620, they drew up the Compact which gave birth to the nation that to-day holds dominion from sea to sea.

" IN YE NAME OF GOD, AMEN! We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread soveraigne Lord, King James, by ye grace of God, of Great Britaine, Franc, & Ireland, defender of ye faith &c, haveing undertaken for ye glorie of God, and advanceinentc of ye Christian faith, and honour of our King and countrie, a voyage to plant ye first colonie in ye Northerne parts of Virginia, doe by these presents, solemnly and mutualy in ye presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves togeather, into a civill body politick, for our better ordering and preservation, and further ance of ye ends aforesaid; and by vertue hearof to enacte, constitute, and frame such just and equall lawes, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meete and convenient for ye generall good of ye Colonie, unto which we prom ise all due submission and obedience. "In witnes whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Oap-Codd, ye 11 of November, in ye year of ye raigne of our soveraigne lord. KING JAMES, of England, Franc, and Ireland, ye eight eenth, and of Scotland ye tiftie-fourth. Ano. Dom. 1620."

Among the forty-one signatures attached to this docu ment is the name of Thomas Rogers, the ancestor of all the early families of that name in New England. One of the first acts of these citizens was to confirm John Carver as Governor of the new commonwealth. The exposures and hardships which these early settlers experienced during the first year of their settlement were fatal to an appalling degree. Fifty-one, one half of the entire colony, died in 1621. Among these was Thomas Rogers. Joseph, the son of Thomas Rogers, and who also came in the Mayflower, was allotted land (two acres) in 1624, and at the town meeting, June 1, 1627, shared in the cattle division. This was one of the methods adopted by the Colony to encourage the people, so that a few could have the care of one animal for the space of ten years. The animal was then to be restored, with one half of increase, to the authorities. At this allotment, fifteen head of cattle were assigned in twelve divisions. The eleventh lot fell to the Gov ernor, William Bradford, and to those with him, namely: His wife, Alice Bradford, Manasseh Kempton, William Bradford, Jr., Julian(a) Kempton, Mercy Bradford, Nathaniel Morton, JOSEPH ROGEKS, John Morton, Thomas Cushman, Ephraim Morton, William Latham, Patience Morton. "To these persons fell an heifer of the last year, which was of the great white-back cow that was brought over in the Anne." " In 1635, Joseph Rogers was allowed a constant ferry at and over Jones river, near his dwelling, and to have a penny for the transportation of a person over the same, he, said Joseph, maintaining a sufficient ferry."—Ply mouth Records, Book 1; Court Orders, page 87. There is a record that Joseph Rogers died on Christ mas day, 1660, from fatal injuries received while wrest ling with his friend John Hawes. In 1661, at a court trial, John Hawes, of Yarmouth, for giving a fatal fall to Joseph Rogers, while wrestling with him on Christmas day, was acquitted on a charge of manslaughter. It is recorded that Joseph Rogers was married and had six children. John Rogers was one of the early proprietors of Dux- bury, (lie went to Scituatc, and finally to Weymouth, where he died in 1661./ He was a member of the Dux- bury company of militia, Miles Standish, captain, 1643. 8

* John Rogers, of Marshfield, was the ancestor of the following families of the name, and, from data obtained, he must have been born about 1628. John Rogers and wife had : A/© , _>Hannah, who married, Nov. 23, 1664, John Tisdale, Jr., pwfaapB of Taunton. He was a son of John Tisdale and wife Susan Walker. Elizabeth, who married, Nov. 17, 1668, Nathaniel Will iams, of Taunton. He was the son of Richard Will iams and wife Frances Dighton. Richard Williams is believed to> have been a brother of that apostle of religious liberty, Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island. John. Abigail. John Tisdale, Jr., and wife Hannah Rogers had : Abigail, born July 15, 1667. John, born Aug. 10, 1669. Anna, born Jan. 27, 1673. Remember, born July 8, 1675. John Tisdale, Jr., the parent, was a son of John Tis dale, one of the twenty-six original proprietors of Free town, at date of purchase, April, 1659. Nathaniel Williams and Elizabeth Rogers had : John, born Aug. 27, 1675. Nathaniel, born April 9, 1679. Elizabeth, born April 18, 1686. Elizabeth married in 1708 John Macomber, of Taun-

* Gen. E. W. Pierce's Contributions. 9 ton. Their daughter Elizabeth became the wife of Will iam Rounsevill, and these were the parents of Levi Rounsevill, captain of the minute men of Freetown, who responded to the Lexington alarm, April 19, 1775. Capt. Rounsevill was the father of Rev. William Rounse vill, a most eloquent man, who represented his native town ten years in the General Court. He was grand father of the distinguished scholar and Unitarian divine, William R. Alger, formerly of Boston, and now (1891) of New Orleans. One of the family of Rogers was President of Harvard College from 1682 to 1684.

[Comets in the Pilgrim days were] " thought to be forerunners of evil. Increase Mather proclaimed that such blazing stars foretold great changes, and learned pastors', Wetherell of Scituate and Wis- wall of Duxbury, taught earnestly from their pulpits that this comet (1680) was directly connected with the death of Governor Josiah Winslow, which followed in the same year. Four years later (1684) Judge Sewall was impressed by the fact that President [John] Rog ers of Harvard College died at the close of a solar eclipse."—Goodwin, page 579.

January, 1676, "William Rogers went to Nantucket." From him, through authentic sources, is traced the direct lineage of HENRY HUDDLESTON ROGERS, of Fairhaven (1891). From genealogical records in the possession of Allen "Coffin, Esq., of Nantucket, it is found that William Rogers married Martha Barnard, daughter of Robert Barnard, who was one of the first twenty proprietors of 10 the island of Nantucket. This marriage was prior to 1678, as shown by a deed dated Nov. 24, 1678, by which Robert Barnard conveys to his son-in-law, William Rog ers, and his wife Martha, a house, land, and commonage. This deed was acknowledged before Tristram Coffin, chief magistrate. Their residence in Nantucket was of short duration. That they moved to Martha's Vineyard is shown in the records, by a deed dated January 10, 1679, by which " William Rogers, in consideration of 17£, lawful money, and for transporting his family and household goods, cattel, sheep, &c., unto Holmes Hole, paid by James Coffin, conveys the ten akers of land that was given to him by his father-in-law, Robert Barnard, together with dwelling-house and privilege for 10 head of cattle, 15 sheep." This deed is signed by William Rogers, ac knowledged before Tristram Coffin, and witnessed by Nathaniel and Mary Starbuck. It is clearly demonstrated that William Rogers took up a permanent residence on Martha's Vineyard, for there is recorded a deed of Samuel Tilton to William Rogers, conveying one-third part of a neck of land on Martha's Vineyard, called Holmes Hole. This deed recites that it is in confirmation of one lost. It is acknowledged before Thomas Mayhew, and dated Oct. 30, 1699. Connected with it appears the following memoranda: "Entered Nov. 2, 1699, in folio 57, per Matthew Mayhew, Regr." This no doubt refers to the record on the books at Ed- gartown; and then follows the usual certificate: "Re corded, June 1, 1709. Eleazer Folger, Regr." 11

The probate records at Edgartown reveal much inter esting and valuable information regarding the Rogers family, and from them much genealogical material is gleaned. The names of members of the Rogers family appear frequently as grantees of land, and more than a hundred deeds are recorded of their transactions. Among these are the following, which are given here because they reveal the names through a term of successive years, and are important to the establishment of the genea logical line: Grantee. Grantor. 1679. William Rogers. Sachem Josias. 1698. Ebenezer Rogers. Sachem Josias. 1699. Ebenezer Rogers. Sachem Ponit. And perhaps thirty or forty other deeds, up to 1766, when for £300 Ebenezer deeded his estate to Robert, William, and Matthew Rogers, doubtless his sons. 1737. William Rogers. John Lewis. 1740. Matthias Rogers. Samuel Cobb. 1752. Thomas Rogers. Timothy Hillman. 1762. Robert, William, and Matthias ; agreement. 1764. William Rogers. Ebenezer Rogers. 1797. Roland and Lot Rogers. Stephen Luce. 1822. Lot Rogers. Roland Rogers. Ebenezer Rogers bought and sold land freely, and his name occurs, either as grantor or grantee, at least fifty times in the probate records. It seems probable that the original settler, William 12

Rogers, had one son, Ebenezer, and that Ebenezer had three sons, Robert, William, and Matthias. Thomas Rogers, mentioned under the date 1752, was no doubt the son of Robert, for he was administrator on his estate in 1766. Lot Rogers, the great-grandfather of HENRY HUDDLESTON ROGERS, had two brothers, Roland and Henry, and two sisters, Patience and Elsey. These were the children of one of the three brothers mentioned above. Lot Rogers was born about 1752, and was 24 years of age when serving in the American army as a revolution ary soldier. The following is his military record for 1776, now in the revolutionary archives, State House, Boston :

" Lay down the axe: fling by the spade: Leave in its track the toiling plough; The rifle and the bayonet blade For arms like yours were fitter now."

REVOLUTIONARY ROLL.

[Vol. 36; p. 259.']

A roll of Capt. Nathan Smith's company, stationed on the island of Martha's Vineyard in 1776, for the defence of the sea-coast, made up from the 15th of January to the last day of February.

Nathan Smith, Capt. Jeremiah Manter, 1st Lt. David Luce, Corpl. Fortunatus Bassett, 2d Lt. Joseph Mayhew, Corpl. David Merry, Sergt. Jeruel West, Corpl. Jesse Luce, Sergt. Geo. Newcomb, Drummer. Samuel Bassett, Sergt. Lothrop Chase, Fifer. 13

Privates. James Look, Peleg Hillman, Elijah Look, David Norton, Arvin Luce, Abner West, John Luce, David Clark, Varnel Clifford, Andrew Newcomb, Eliphalet Rogers, Solomon Daggett, Jonathan Look, James Winslow, Benjamin Luce, Nathan Daggett, Malachi Luce, Silas Daggett, William Harden, Roland Luce, Thomas Chase, Thomas Manchester, Shubael Luce, Sylvanus Luce, Elverton Crowell, Zacheus Chase, Augustus Allen, Thomas Whelden, Jeremiah Luce, Jabez Downs, John Dunham, Moses Luce, Lemuel Luce, George Hillman, John Lumbart, Benjamin Bassett, David Dunham, John Bassett, James Luce, Nathan Bassett, Samuel Lumbart, Jr., Joseph Skiff, Nathan Clifford, Freeman Norton, Thomas Luce, David Hillman, Hovey Luce, John Mayhew, Zachariah Smith, Jonathan Hillman, Adonijah Luce, Daniel Hillman, LOT ROGEKS, Abner Hillman, Aaron Luce, Silas Cottle, Presbury Luce, Peter Cottle, Brazillai Crowell, Thomas Cox, Nathan Weeks, Lot Hillman, Jonathan Merry, Shubael Luce, Jr.

There are three other rolls of Captain Nathan Smith's company, made up from the first day of March, the first day of June, and from the first day of September to the 14 twenty-first day of November, 1776, in all of which Lot Rogers' name is enrolled.

REVOLUTIONARY ROLL. [Vol. 36; p. 177.] A roll of Lieut. Jeremiah Manter's company, which was part of the company stationed on Martha's Vineyard in the year 1776, made up from the 20th of November to the last day of December, 1776. Jeremiah Smith, Lieut. David Merry, Sergt. Malachi Baxter, Corpl. Privates. Josiah Luce, Thomas Smith, Lothrop Chace, Nathan Luce, Elijah Look, William Dagget, LOT ROGE[E]S, Thomas Garner, Elvarton Crowel, Seth Cottle, Lot Luce, Prince Dagget, Henry Luce, Silas Dagget, Nathan Weaks, Ebenezer Butler, Simeon Hatch, Elvarton Parker, Jonathan Manter, Stephen Pease, Jonathan Merry, Jonathan Pease. At Lambert's Cove, Paul's Point, North Tisbury, on a high cliff overlooking Vineyard Sound, are the remains of a fortification or earthworks, used during the Ameri can revolution. A few miles to the west, and on the same shore, stands to-day the house in which Lot and Martha Rogers lived in those historic days. They had five children, — James, Abisha, Robert, Nancy, and Huldah. The house has been enlarged, and is still occupied by one of the family, Gilbert Hervey Rogers, the son of James. In his possession is a family Bible, from which 15 many important genealogical lists are taken. He states that James and Nancy were twins, and that Huldah was the youngest child. He also relates that in his early boyhood there was a family tradition that his grandfather, Lot Rogers, served in the revolutionary army. This tradition is confirmed by the pay-rolls. James Rogers, born June 14, 1790, died Nov. 28, 1847, married Nov. 13, 1821, Louisa Athearn, who was born Jan. 9, 1804, and died Feb. 23, 1878. Children : Temperance A., born March 12, 1833, died March 18, 1833. " Farewell my child, my fallen leaf, My flower of purest love; O could I bear with joy the grief, For thou art blest above."—Family Bible.

Gilbert Henry, born Sept. 17, 1834; now (1891) living. Caroline Elizabeth, born March 24, 1837. George Allen, born Sept. 4, 1839. Susan Gould, born April 23, 1842. Abisha Rogers, born June 23, 1782, and Judith Cush- man, born Dec. 21, 1782, were the grandparents of HENRY HUDDLESTON ROGERS. They were married Feb. 23, 1806, and had five children : Ezra C, born May 26, 1807, died Oct. 13, 1808. Roland, born March 21, 1809. Maria S., born Jan. 11, 1811, died April 9, 1846. Judith C, born Nov. 28, 1813, died Nov. 23, 1817. Martha A., born Aug. 2, 1825, died Oct. 2, 1828. Mooers Rogers, born July 11, 1774, died Jan. 10, 1858, and Mary Cushman, born Sept. 2, 1775, (sister of 16

Judith, wife of Abisha Rogers,) were married Sept. 9, 1798. Children: David M., born Sept. 10, 1800, died Oct. 1, 1800. Clarissa M., born Sept. 9, 1802, died . Cephas C, born Sept. 3, 1804, died at sea Jan. 1820. Elizabeth S., born March 22, 1806, died March 4, 1831. Moses Allen, born Aug. 29, 1807, died Sept. 23, 1808. Mary Sole, born Nov. 14, 1808, died . Judith Clark, born May 7, 1811, died Dec. 7, 1812. William B., born Sept. 1, 1813, now (1891) living. Deborah S., born Aug. 25, 1815. Roland Rogers and Mary E. Huddleston were mar ried March 31, 1833, and had three children : Eliza Soper, born Sept. 7, 1834, died June 6, 1849. Henry Huddleston, born Jan. 29, 1840. Rufus Allen, born Feb. 22, 1843. He now resides in Chicago. HENRY HUDDLESTON ROGERS and ABBIE PALMER GIFFORD were married Nov. 17, 1862, and had six children : Anne Engle, born Feb. 5, 1865. Cara Leland, born Nov. 24, 1867. Infant boy, born Dec. 24, 1870, died Dec. 25, 1870. Millicent Gifford, born Feb. 1, 1873, died Aug. 31, 1890. Mary Huddleston, born Sept. 26, 1875. Henry Huddleston, born Dec. 28, 1879. - Anne Engle Rogers married William Evarts Benjamin, son of the late Park Benjamin, author and poet, Nov. 17, 1886. Cara Leland Rogers married Bradford Ferris Duff, 17 grandson of Henry G. Shaw ("Josh Billings"), Nov. 17, 1890. " Farmer observes in his Manuscripts that of this name ' Rogers' fifty-four have been college graduates: thirty-seven of Harvard College, ten of Yale College. Fifteen of these were clergymen, of which I count twelve at Harvard."—Savage.

HENRY HUDDLESTON ROGERS. Henry Huddleston Rogers was born in Fairhaven, Jan. 29, 1840. His early education was obtained in the pub lic schools of his native town, and he graduated from the High school April 11, 1855. In 1861, he removed to the new oil regions of Pennsyl vania, where for seven years he engaged in the develop ment of this wonderful industry. In 1868, he went to New York city, where he continued in the petroleum business with the late Charles Pratt, under the firm name of Charles Pratt & Co. In 1874, the business of the firm was associated with that of the Standard Oil Company, of Ohio. In 1882, the combined business of the two concerns (with that of many others engaged in the production, transportation, and refining of petroleum) was united by an agreement which placed the properties in trust with a board of trustees, for the purpose of economic administration and mutual benefit. The Standard Oil Trust was the first large association of industrial concerns in this, country. Its success has been followed by similar concentration in othor branches of trade. Public opinion is yet divided as to the wisdom 18

of such vast aggregations of capital, and the practical control of any important industry of the country, and of the consequences to the people at large. The subject is one that at the present time commands the thoughtful attention of students of political economy. Mr. Rogers, whose knowledge of the subject comes from a practical participation in the first, and as yet the largest and richest, of the industrial organizations, has expressed a decided opinion on the question. In a recent letter he says: " When such concentration is undertaken for the hon est purpose of bringing producer and consumer nearer together, it must result advantageously to both parties." It gives to the producer a profit by reason of economy and the use of improved methods of manufacture, and to the consumer it furnishes his goods at a lower cost. If, however, concentration is intended for monopolistic gain, or for stock jobbing purposes, it is a pronounced evil. Legislation may stop the latter, but unless the world is retrograding instead of progressing, honest association and centralization will continue. Through cooperation, the trades unions, on the whole, have helped the laboring people. If association helps labor, why should it not help capital ? If right in the one case, it must be right in the other; provided, always, that in each the partici pant is true in practice to the broad theory expounded. Wisdom is required in business. A broad-minded man builds not for to-day, but for the future. Foolish men destroy by arbitrary action for immediate gain ; but, for tunately, foolish men are not in the majority." 19

Mr. Rogers has been identified with the petroleum business throughout its remarkable existence to the present time, and is now one of the nine directors who manage the affairs of the Standard Oil Trust. He is identified with many other institutions in an active way, notably the National Transit Company, the Mutual Life Insur ance Company, the Lacy Steel and Iron Company, and the Atlantic Trust Company. His permanent home is in New York city, and he has a summer residence at Fairhaven, to which town he is especially attached. In 1885, he presented the town with the Rogers School building, a spacious and conven ient structure, and well equipped with all modern appli ances for the education of youth. His children are erecting the Millicent Library build ing, in Fairhaven, as a memorial of their deceased sister, Millicent Gifford Rogers. A town hall is also in process of erection, that is to be the free gift of Mrs. Abbie Gifford Rogers. In these, and in many other practical ways, have the Rogers family shown their deep interest in the prosperity of Fairhaven. Whatever success in life he has achieved, Mr. Rogers claims that it has come to him through eminent good for tune and a willingness to work. For whatever ability he may possess, he gratefully acknowledges his indebtedness to a good ancestry and to the kindness of God.

" What wonder, if in noble heat Those men thine arms withstood, JUetaught the lesson thou hadst taught, And in thy spirit with thee fought— Who sprang from English blood I" —TENNYSON.

THE GIFFORD FAMILY.

Walter Gifford emigrated from England to Massachu setts in 1630, and was the ancestor of the American branch of this family. William Gifford, bricklayer, is recorded as living in Boston, 1654. At the General Court of Elections at Plymouth, June, 1650, William Gifford was one of the grand inquest. Oct. 6, 1659, one of the name was complained of by one Marshall Barlow '« for affronting him in the highway near a bridge, over which he should have driven some cattle ; yet foreasmuch as the said William affirmed that he was not directly in his way, but in an old path leading to his home, the Court suspended judgment till the place be reviewed and the matter made more evident." Just what the verdict was in this case is not recorded. William Gifford received, however, considerable attention from the Plymouth Court. June 13, 1660, he and others were severally demanded whether they would 22 take the oath of "fidelitie"; which they refused to do. In the October court of the same year he was fined for this offence, and was also fined ten shillings for attending Quaker meeting. John Gifford was a resident of Lynn in 1653, and was agent for an iron works company of London. He mar ried Margaret Temple, by whom he had two children, Margaret and Philip. Philip Gifford, of Lynn, son of above, married, June 30, i684, Mary Davis, perhaps daughter of John of that town, by whom he had three children : Philip, born July 30, 1685. Mary, born , died June 19, 1690. Lewis. Stephen Gifford was one of the original proprietors of Norwich, Conn., 1660. He married Hannah Gove, May, 1667, and had two children : Samuel, born 1668. Hannah, born Jan. 17, 1671. His wife died Jan. 24, 1671, and he married, in 1672, Hannah, daughter of John Gallop, by whom he had four children : John, born 1673. Ruth, born 1676. Stephen, born 1679. Aquila, born 1682. The second wife died in 1721, aged 79 years. Ste phen Gifford died Nov. 27, 1724. Jeremiah Gifford was an ensign in Capt. Job Almy's company of militia, in Dartmouth, in 1762. 23

Abraham Gifford was a revolutionary soldier, and served in Capt. William Hicks' company of militia, in 1777. Bethuel, Justus, David, and Reuben Gifford were pri vates in Capt. Joseph Palmer's company of militia, of Falmouth, which responded to the call for the defence of Dartmouth, during the British invasion, Sept. 5, 1778. Elihu Gifford, the great-grandfather of MRS. ABBIE GIFFORD ROGERS, was a revolutionary soldier, and served both as private and officer in the American army. He was a private in Capt. Manasseh Kempton's company, in Col. Freeman's regiment, which served in Rhode Island, in Oct. 1777. " The old Continentals, In their ragged regimentals, Faltered not." The following is a copy of the original pay-roll, now in possession of the State of Massachusetts: REVOLUTIONARY ROLL. [Vol. 2; p. 62.] An abstract of the wages, mileage, and subsistence money due to Capt. Elihu Gifford's company, in Col. Turner's regiment, when on duty in the five months' service on Rhode Island, raised in the coun ties of Bristol and Barnstable, agreeable to a resolve of the General Court of this Commonwealth, the 16th of June, 1781. Elihu Gifford, Capt. Benjamin Bosworth, Lieut. John Wilcox, Fifer. Abraham Dean, Sergt. Luis Allen, Drummer. John Hogges, Sergt. Simeon Caswell, Corpl. Abraham Ormsby, Sergt. John Crandon, Corpl. Jonathan Peck, Sergt. Joel Hathaway, Corpl. John McClean, Corpl. 24

Privates. Richard Williams, Samuel Linkhorn, Nethaniel Richmon, Moses Suckonash, Edward Adams, Ephraim Burr, George Seakings, Joseph Walker, Ellis Churchel, James Read, Squire Stephens, John McDaniel, Isaac Briggs, Silvanus Wades, Eliakim Jones, Shubel Pitts, Zepheniah Andrew, Joshua Gage, Prince Hathaway, Anthony Gage, John Dillingham, Anthony Baker, Elisha Blossom, Benjamin Gibbs, David Handy, Josiah Gibbs, Ephraim Anable, John Perry, Ebenezer Pool, Amos Tucker, Jonathan Richmon, Welcom Capering, Benjamin Shaw, George Bardine, Simeon Demoranvillee, Ebenezer Wilmat, Benson Jones, William Simmons, Benjamin Lumbert, Job Handy, Prince Perry, James Cobb, Abijah Mayhew, David Follet, David Taylor, Samuel Dagget, Nethaniel Knowles, Benjamin Mason, Benony Baker, Thomas Delano, Joseph Chase.

The total amount due was six hundred forty-seven pounds, seven shillings, seven pence.

Capt. Elihu Gifford was married Sept. 8, 1768, to Ab igail Chase. They had children : Abraham R. George Washington. Paul. 25

Pardon. Patience, married Tripp. Parnell. George Washington Gifford was a master shipbuilder, and a man of much importance in his day. He died in Mattapoisett, Feb. 4, 1816. Abraham R. Gifford was a prominent shipbuilder in New Bedford, and built some of the finest whaleships which sailed from that port. Paul Gifford was also a shipbuilder, and after his resi dence in New Bedford moved to Connecticut. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was a member of Capt. Reuben Swift's company of militia. George Washington Gifford married Judith Palmer. He died Feb. 4, 1814, and his wife died Jan. 16, 1842. They had seven children, two of whom died in infancy: Holder. Elihu. Peleg W. George!^, IJ^j > * / ^ S> c

ABBIE P. GIFFORD married HENRY HUDDLESTON ROG ERS, Nov. 17, 1862. "And never may they rest unsung, While Liberty can find a tongue. Twine, Gratitude, a wreath for them, More deathless than the diadem, Who to life's noblest end Gave up life's noblest powers; And bade the legacy descend, Down, down to us and ours."

THE CUSHMAN FAMILY.

Few New England families have a more complete gen ealogy published than that of the name Cushman.* The American branch of the family began with Robert Cushman, born in England about 1580. He was a Puritan of the strictest type, and joined the band of Pilgrims who abandoned their homes and country for the sake of their religious belief. He was one of the agents of the Leyden company, which made the necessary ar rangements for the transportation of the Plymouth colo nists. The Mayflower was secured in London to bring them to New England, and was one of the fleet of five vessels that brought the colonists to Massachusetts Bay in 1630, and to Salem in 1629.

* Genealogy of the Cushmans, by H. W. Cushman. Published by Little, Brown, &Co. Boston, 1866. 28

Robert Cushman had special oversight of the affairs of the Pilgrims, and did much towards establishing the col ony on a permanent basis. Allen's Biographical Diction ary says of him: " He was distinguished in the history of Plymouth Colony, and was one of the worthies who quitted Eng land for conscience' sake. * * * He was a man of activity and enterprise, respected for his talents and vir tues, well acquainted with the Scriptures, and a professed disciple of Jesus Christ." His descendants for ten generations are recorded in the Cushman Genealogy; and its pages reveal the names of many who, in their day and generation, were prominent in church and state. Perhaps among them all, no one was more respected and revered than Charlotte Saunders Cushman. She adopted the stage as a profession, and by her purity of life and conduct compelled the love and admiration of the world. By her remarkable genius, she placed her name on the very pinnacle of fame.

"Form And feature hath she, wherein move and glow The charms that in the marble cold and still, Culled by the sculptor's jealous skill, and joined there, Inspire us!"

Thomas, familiarly known by the name of Elder Cush man, was born in England in February, 1608. He was probably in the Mayflower when his father, with the other Pilgrims, sailed for America; for "Robert Cush man and his family" were among that famous band of '• •••ry-i:

Puritan brethren. Thomas and his father went back to London in the Speedwell. His son Thomas, born Sept. 16, 1637, married first, Ruth Howland, Nov. 16, 1664, who was the daughter of John Howland, "one of the old comers"; and he mar ried second, Oct. If), 1679, Abigail Fuller, of Rehoboth. His son Robert was born Oct. 4, 1664, and he married first, Persis , who died at Kingston, Jan. 14, 1743-4. At the age of about 80, he married Prudence Sherman, of Marshfield, "a maiden turned of 70." Robert died at Kingston, Sept. 7, 1757, aged 92 years, 11 months, 3 days. It is said that he had children by his second wife.. His son Joshua, born Oct. 14, 1708, died at Marsh- field, March 25, 1764. He married first, Jan. 2, 1733, Mary Soule, daughter of Josiah Soule, of Duxbury, from whom have descended all the Cushmans in Duxbury. Mary Soule was born Dec. 6, 1706. He married for a second wife, March 5, 1752, Deborah Ford, of Marsh- field, who was born in 1718, and who died in July, 1789, aged 71. Joshua came from Lebanon, Conn., and set tled in Duxbury. Cephas, the son of Joshua, was baptized in 1746 and died in 1815. He married, in 1767, Judith, daughter of Ezekiel Clark, who was born in 1750 and died in 1833. Cephas lived in Mattapoisett, and was a deacon of the Congregational church (Rev. Lemuel Le Baron's). He was in the whaling business for a time, and was after wards a farmer and shoemaker. Judith, daughter of Cephas, born Oct. 21, 1782, mar- 30 ried Abisha Rogers, of Martha's Vineyard, and resided at Mattapoisett. They had five children. Their son Roland, born March 21, 1809, married Mary E. Huddle ston, March 31, 1833. They were the parents of HENRY HUDDLESTON ROGERS. Tax-payers of the name Cushman, in the town of Dart mouth : 1764. James, James, Jr., Ebenezer, Seth, Elisha. 1767. James, Ebenezer, Seth, Elisha. 1775. James, Elisha, Seth. Revolutionary record of the Cushmans of Dartmouth: Obed Cushman, fifer, Capt. Thomas Kempton's com pany, Lexington alarm, April 19, 1775. Samuel Cushman, private, Capt. Daniel Egery's com pany, Lexington alarm, April 19, 1775. Neil Cushman and Lemuel Cushman, privates, Capt. Daniel Egery's company, Aug. 1, 1775. Hervey Cushman and Jonathan Cushman, privates, Capt. Nathaniel Pope's expedition to Elizabeth Islands, Sept. 25, 1775. Lemuel Cushman, private, Capt. Benjamin Dilling ham's company, March 13, 1776. David Cushman was one of the six months' men, Oct. 5, 1781. " Kind hearts are more than coronets, And simple faith, than Norman blood." —TENNYSON.

THE HUDDLESTON FAMILY.

The earliest mention of the name Huddleston * in American history is in connection with a painful experi ence of Plymouth colony in 1622. The colonists were in a most distressed condition ; and one half of their original number had fallen victims to the hardship and suffering that had been common to them all. The month of June found them on the verge of starvation ; for six months they had lived on half allow ance, and their storehouse was empty. The shellfish, on which they mainly subsisted, was a poor substitute for bread and meat. Their sufferings were extreme, and the outlook gloomy and discouraging. Such was the condition of affairs when the shallop of the " Sparrow" arrived in Plymouth harbor. The Spar row was one of a fleet of some thirty English vessels then engaged in fishing on the Maine coast. The shallop brought letters to the colonists from England, and one from John Huddleston, master of one of the fishing

* Otherwise spelled Huttleaton. 32 vessels from the east. He was an entire stranger to them, but in his letter he notified them of a terrible mas sacre of 347 settlers in Virginia, which, but for the ex posure of the plot by a friendly Indian, would have resulted in the annihilation of that colony. Capt. Hudr dleston urged the Pilgrims to be ready for any emer gency. When the shallop of the Sparrow reformed to the coast of Maine, Winslow (afterwards governor) went at the same time to purchase provisions. He was kindly re ceived by Capt. Huddleston. The latter, however, could spare but little from his stores; although such as he could furnish he gave promptly, and refused any remun eration. He gave Winslow a, letter, with many expres sions of regard, to the other captains on the coast, who' nobly followed his example, and contributed gladly what they could. The supply of provisions obtained by Winslow was sufficient to allow each colonist four ounces of bread per day till harvest-time. The name of Valentine Huddleston is found in the list of proprietors of Dartmouth, attached to the confirma tory deed of William Bradford, Nov. 13, 1694. He is first mentioned in the Dartmouth records in 1681. He died in June, 1727, in the 99th year of his age. Henry Huddleston married Sarah Case, and had seven children : Peleg, born Jan. 1, 1702. Elizabeth, born Oct. 16, 1704. William, born March 20, 1706. Mary, born Dec. 1, 1710. / i

Anna, born Jan. 1, 1712. Seth, born Aug. 20, 1715. James, born Sept. 4, 1719. Children of Peleg Huddleston and Mary, his wife : Catharine, born April 17, 1728. Sybil, born Feb. 4, 1730. Valentine, born May 1, 1732. Benjamin, born Aug. 21, 1734. Children of Seth Huddleston and Elizabeth Fish, his wife, who were married Oct. 1737 : Patience, born Oct. 17, 1738. Alice, born March 5, 1741. Sarah, born Jan. 17, 1744. Seth, born April 30, 1746. Children of Isaac Huddleston and Elinor, his wife : Chloe, born May 31, 1731. George, born June 12, 1733. Elizabeth, born Oct. 25, 1736. Mary, born May 14, 1738. Jean, born Nov. 11, 1741. Chloe married Thomas Gage, of Freetown, May, 1750. George married Sarah Crandall, of Tiverton, Feb. 1754. Mary married Joseph Gage, of Tiverton, Sept.-1756. Children of Richard Huddleston and Sarah Tallman, his wife, who were married June, 1727 : Judith, born Aug. 15, 1728. John, born March 5, 1731. 34

Job Merrihew married Anna, daughter of Peleg* Hud dleston, in Oct. 1739. Peleg Huddleston, Jr., probably the son of the Peleg mentioned above, married Tabitha Crowell, in March, 1767. He died May 22, 1801, aged 60 years, and his wife died Aug". 24, 1790, aged 47 years. They had three children : Henry. Thomas. Betsey. Henry Huddleston married Rhoda Merrihew. They were the grandparents of HENRY HUDDLESTON ROGERS. Roland Rogers married Mary E. Huddleston, Dec. 1832, and had three children : Eliza Soper, born Sept. 7, 1834, died June 6, 1849. Henry Huddleston, born Jan. 29, 1840. Rufus Allen, born Feb. 22, 1843.

*8o says the record. Probably she was the daughter of Henry Huddleston, and sister of Peleg. " The purest treasure mortal times afford Is spotless reputation; that away, Men are but gilded loam or painted clay." — SHAKESPEARE.

THE DELANO FAMILY.

Phillipe Delannoy (Delanoie or Delanoye*), the ances tor of the Delano family in the United States, was de scended from a Huguenot family, which was driven from France by Catholic persecution and settled in the Neth erlands, in what is now a part of France. The little town of Lannoy received its name from this family. Phillipe was born in 1603. He gave evidence, as the record says, of faith in the Protestant religion, and joined the Puri tans at Ley den. He sailed for Plymouth in the "For tune," and arrived there Nov. 9, 1621. Phillipe was one of the first inhabitants of Duxbury, and there married Esther Dewsbury, Dec. 19, 1634. In 1657, he married for a second wife, Mary, widow of John Glass, and daughter of William Pontus. Phillipe Delannoy re moved to Bridgewater, of which he was one of the orig-

* Another of this name, Peter Delanoye, was chosen mayor of New York, Oct. H, 1689, the first year of the reign of William and Mary. Dec. 14, 1689, he was commissioned to receive their majesties' revenues in the Province of New York. In 1689 and 1690, he Is mentioned as judge of the court of chancery and also of the court of oyer and terminer. (See Documentary history of New York. Vol.11.) 36 inal proprietors. He was also one of the original pur chasers of Dartmouth. He died in 1681. From him and from his kindred are descended the American fami lies of Delano and Noyes. Children of Philip Delano [Phillipe Delannoy] and of his wife Esther: Thomas, married Mary Alden. Philip. John. Jane. Rebecca, married John Churchill. Jonathan, married Mary Warren. Esther. Mary, married Jonathan Dunham. Lieut. Jonathan Delano, son of Philip and Esther Delano, was an early inhabitant of the east part of Dart mouth, now Fairhaven, and lived near the brook in Nas- katucket, where he had a mill. He died Dec. 28, 1720, in the 75th year of his age, and was buried in the churchyard at Acushnet, where his gravestone now stands. He filled a variety of offices, such as lieutenant of the militia, constable, town clerk, commissioner, and repre sentative. He was also a surveyor of land, as was his father before him. He married, Feb. 26, 1678, Mercy, daughter of Na thaniel and Sarah (Walker) Warren, and granddaughter of Richard Warren, who came to Plymouth in the May flower in 1620. Richard was the son of Christopher and Alice (Webb) Warren. 37

•Children of Jonathan and Mary (Warren) Delano : Jonathan, Jr., born 1680, married Amy Smith. Jabez, married Mary Delano. Sarah. Mercy. Nathan. Bethiah. Susanna. Nathaniel, married Elizabeth Durfee. He died April 8, 1770. Esther. Jethro, married Elizabeth Pope. Thomas. Jonathan Delano, Jr., settled in Tolland, Conn., and died March 25, 1752, aged 72 years. His daughter Su sanna married, Nov. 5, 1746, Noah Grant. They had one son, Noah, who married for his second wife Sarah Kelley. Among their children was one Jesse Root Grant, who married Hannah Simpson. They were the parents of Genera] Ulysses S. Grant.

" He who is firm in will, moulds the world to himself ."—Goethe.

Sarah Delano, daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Durfee) Delano, married, Dec. 27, 1749, Isaiah El- dredge. He died Feb. 28, 1812, aged 87 years, and she died Oct.* 24, 1818, aged 93 years. Children : Ruby, born Oct. 23, 1750, married first, Stephen Merri- "hew, and second, Jethro Allen. Mary, born March 24, 1753, married Benjamin Terry. Phineas, born Nov. 29, 1755. 38

Bethiah, born May 20, 1759, married Humphrey Russell. Sarah, born July 31, 1761, married Daniel Wood. Killey, born Sept. 16, 1764, married first, Mercy Church, and second, Elsa Loring Maxfield. Rhoda, born Aug. 26, 1766, died Oct. 29, 1776. Isaiah, Jr., born Dec. 19, 1771, died March 4, 1795. Stephen and Ruby (Eldredge) Merrihew were parents of Rhoda, who married Henry Huddleston. Their daughter Mary married Roland Rogers, and they were the parents of HENRY HUDDLESTON ROGERS. " He cometh unto you with a tale which holdeth children from play, and old men from the chimney corner."—SIR PHILIP SIDNEY.

THE MERRIHEW FAMILY.

Stephen Merrihew was born May 26, 1742. He lived in Fairhaven village, in the house now (1891) occupied by Mrs. Roland Rogers, mother of Henry Huddleston Rogers. It is situated on the east side of Middle street, the second house from the corner of Washington street. Mr. Merrihew's name appears in the tax list of the town for the year 1767. It is probable that he followed the sea, for the record states that he died at Hispaniola in 1783. He was among the sufferers from the British invasion, Sept. 5, 1778, when five thousand British troops landed at Clark's Cove, marched around the river,, and through the village of Fairhaven, burning and de stroying property as they went. Warehouses, shipyards, rope walks, and stores, that had given employment to the inhabitants, dwellings and barns, the property of loyal citizens, who in their love of liberty dared to avow them selves open enemies of the British Crown, and a fleet of seventy ships, most of them creations of the mechanical skill of Dartmouth citizens, all these, in a single night, were offered up in flame and smoke,—Dartmouth's con tribution to the price paid for American independence. 40

The town was literally crushed, and with it, for a time, the courage and energy of the men who had been the leaders in its prosperity. That privation and want followed in the footsteps of this great disaster is indicated by the action of the Gen eral Court in 1780, when an appropriation of £1200 was made for the relief of those citizens of Dartmouth who had suffered from the ravages of the enemy. " A list of pergons to whom the selectmen allowed portions of the £1200 allowed to the sufferers by the enemy, Sept. 5th, 1778, at Bed ford, and paid by Col. Thomas Kempton: Sylvanus Allen, Sarah Shearman, Sylvanus Allen, Jr., Seth Reed, Walla Adams, Oliver Price, James Aikin, Benjamin Taber, Betsey Cathel, wido, Experience Tripp, Uriah Dunham, George Wrightington, John Gerrish, Griffin Barney, .Samuel Hawes, Eleazer Hathaway, Sarah Kempton, Micha Hathaway, Lemuel Mendal, Gamaliel Briant, Anna Mot, Thomas Boland, STEPHEN MERRIHEW, Freeman Taber, Mary Negus, Ephraim Annibal, Shoebel Peas, Elihu Aikih, Joseph Rotch, James Chandler, Abigail Samson, Charles Church, Eeliamel Summerton, Sole Cushman, George Whippe, Venture Child, Timothy Ingraham, Joshua Doune, John Wait, Martha Hamlin." The list reveals the names of many families whose de scendants were identified with the subsequent growth and prosperity of the villages of Bedford and Fairhaven. 41

Job Merrihoo [Merrihew] married Anna, daughter* of Peleg Huddleston, Oct. 1739. Stephen Merrihew was born May 26, 1742, and died in Hispaniola, 1783. Ruby Eldredge, his wife, was born Oct. 23, 1750, and died Dec. 15, 1835. Children: Joseph, born July 3, 1770. Rhoda, born Dec. 26, 1771, died Sept. 18, 1841. James, born Aug. 15, 1774. Stephen, born Jan. 11, 1777, died June 15, 1847. William, born Dec. 30, 1778. Killey E., born .March 11, 1781, died Jan. 31, 1808. Stephen Merrihew was born in Fairhaven village, Jan. 11, 1777. Prior to his removal to New Bedford, he lived in the house on the northeast corner of Union and Middle streets. He was in command of several ships, and made many voyages from New York. Captain Merrihew was a man of sterling character, wise and sagacious in his judgment. He took a promi nent position in the political and mercantile affairs of the town. He was an enthusiastic advocate of the measures that led to the declaration of war with England, in 1812. At a Fourth of July celebration in Fairhaven, at this period, Capt. Merrihew offered the following toast, the sentiments of which reveal the positive character of po litical opinion at that time: "The enemies of democ racy : may they be lathered with aqua fortis and shaved with a saw-mill." Captain Merrihew was the secretary of the Bedford

* See note on page 34. PcO'2l 42

Commercial Insurance Company, organized in 1821, and was president of the Merchants' Marine Insurance Com pany, organized in 1835. He was also a member of the board of trustees of the Institution for Savings for many years, and occupied other positions of trust. His resi dence in New Bedford was in the house that he built, now standing on the northeast corner of Union and Eighth streets. Rhoda Merrihew married Henry Huddleston, Dec. 6, 1795. They had seven children : Nancy. Henry. Elizabeth. Stephen. Jane. Killey. Mary E. Mary E. Huddleston married Roland Rogers, March 31, 1833, and they were the parents of HENRY HUDDLESTON ROGERS.