Leicester Massachusetts

Barton Genealogy – Leicester MA

BARTON, CALEB, brother of Phineas, came originally from Oxford. He lived in the south-west part of the town, and is mentioned among the soldiers of the Revolution. He had Caleb, jun. David. Charles, b. in 1795; now living in Leicester. Otis, who lives in Oakham. And Brigham N., now in business in Philadelphia. His daughters were Rebecca, who m. Knight Sprague, jun. Sally, m. J. Gilbert. Patty, m. Philip Earle. Roxa, m. Charles King; and d. 1843, aged fifty-three. Mehitabel, m. a Hixon of Medway. Hulddah, m. a Clark of Medway. Harriet, m. a Prentiss of Auburn. Adeline, m. a … Read more

Bell Genealogy – Leicester MA

BELL, AARON. The name of his wife was Isabel. They had Mary, b. March 19, 1721. lMartha, b. April 1, 1724. Elizur, b. July 8, 1726. Sarah, b. July 4, 1728. He lived where there is now a cellar, south of Mr. Robert Young’s.

Biographical Sketch of Ames, Frank M.

Ames, Frank M., son of Oakes and Eveline (Gilmore) Ames, was born in North Easton, Bristol County, August 14, 1833. He was educated at Leicester and Andover academies. Upon leaving school he entered into the employ of the well-known firm of Oliver Ames & Sons, where he remained several years, and became practically acquainted not only with the mechanical part of manufacturing shovels, but also with the details of an extensive business. In 1858 he removed to Canton to take control of the business of the Kinsley Iron & Machine Company. At the present time he is one of the … Read more

Biography of Rev. Arthur Buckminster Fuller

REV. ARTHUR BUCKMINSTER FULLER, the third son of Hon. Timothy Fuller, was born August 10, 1822. He was early instructed by his father and his sister, Margaret Fuller. At the age of twelve, he spent one year at Leicester Academy; and, subsequently, studied with Mrs. Ripley, the wife of Rev. Samuel Ripley, of Waltham. In August, 1839, he entered Harvard College, at the age of seventeen, and graduated in 1843. During his college course he united with the church connected with the University. Immediately on graduation he purchased Belvidere Academy, in Belvidere, Boone Co., Illinois, Which, assisted by a competent … Read more

Allen Genealogy – Leicester MA

ALLEN, AARON, m. Catherine Cummings, July 10, 1739; and had Elizabeth, b. Oct. 4, 1739. ALLEN, JOSEPH, Hon., removed here from Boston, Nov. 17, 1771; m. Anne, dau. of Judge Steele, and had Thomas, b. Nov. 16, 1774; d. March 30, 1775. Mrs. Allen d. May 10, 1775, aged twenty-four. In 1776, Mr. Allen was appointed Clerk of the Courts of the County, and removed to Worcester. He is noticed in this work. He held many offices of honor and trust, — Councillor, Member of Congress, Presidential Elector, &c.; and d. Sept. 2, 1827, aged seventy-eight. ALLEN, LEWIS, m. Mary … Read more

Beers Genealogy – Leicester MA

BEERS, NATHAN, m. Betsey, dau. of Isaac Southgate, Mar. 4, 1790; and had Sally, b. June 17, 1790; m. Amos Warren, Esq., of Woodstock, Vermont, 1854. Melissa, b. Feb. 10, 1798; m. R. Bancroft, 1821. Horatio, b. May 10, 1802. Alphonso, b. Dec. 26, 1805; d. April 22, 1843. Almira, a twin; m. William Woodcock of Leicester, 1838. Albert, b. July 13, 1800; and Adeline, b. Nov. 4, 1813. Mr. Beers was a manufacturer of shoes; and, the latter part of his life, lived in Cherry Valley, in the house afterwards occupied by Moses Shepherd.

Handbook of Historical Data Concerning Leicester, Massachusetts

The John King House

This post contains a brief outline of the history of the town of Leicester, Massachusetts. However, at the bottom of the page, it provides extensive additional free material on historical and genealogical research within Leicester Massachusetts. If you have ancestors in Leicester, do not miss this!

Free Massachusetts Vital Records

Vital Records of Bellingham Massachusetts to 1850

This is a collection of free vital records books, otherwise known as “Tan Books” for Massachusetts towns. Generally, these records go up to 1849/1850 at which, the genealogist can use the census records to assist in identifying the family connections further. Included with this article is an account of why and how these manuscripts were published along with links to all 199 books which can be freely read or downloaded.

Bass Genealogy – Leicester MA

BASS, JOSEPH, was early a seafaring man and a ship-master in the West-India trade. He came from Plymouth County to Leicester with his family. His wife was mother of John Hobart, Esq. Their children were Manly; Matilda, m. a Reed; Saba, m. William Lynde; Warren, removed to Lisbon, New Hampshire; Betsey, d. unmarried. His wife d. 1816; he in 1829, aged seventy-five. He lived in the house opposite Mrs. Newhall’s.

Flint Genealogy – Leicester MA

Dr. Austin Flint married Elizabeth Henshaw, 1785, he was an eminent physician; lived in Petersham, afterwards in Northampton, and, for several years before his death, in Springfield MA; died at Leicester MA, Dec. 11, 1846. Dr. Flint is noticed in the body of this work. Issue: Joseph H. Flint, b. April 20, 1786 Sally Flint, b. June 5, 1787; m. Calvin Spear of Boston. Edward, b. Nov. 7, 1789. Elizabeth C. Flint, b. May 3, 1792; m. John Clapp. Waldo Flint, b. Sept. 4, 1794; is noticed in this work; President of the Eagle Bank, Boston. Laura Flint, b. Nov. 1, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ames, Oliver

Ames, Oliver, son of Oakes and Eveline (Gilmore) Ames, was born in Easton, Bristol County, February 4, 1831. He passed the usual public school course of his native town, and prepared for college in the academies at No. Attleborough and Leicester. His college course—a special one – was taken at Brown University, Providence, R. I. He began business life as an employee in the shovel works of Oliver Ames & Sons. He afterwards went on the road as traveling agent for the firm, of which he soon became an active partner. While engaged in the never-ceasing round of cares that … Read more

Baldwin Genealogy – Leicester MA

BALDWIN, BENJAMIN. His wife’s name was Betsey; and had Roxana, b. Dec. 15, 1811. Horace, b. Nov. 24, 1813. Nancy, b. April 17, 1816. Dexter, b. Sept. 2, 1818. BALDWIN, EBENEZER, m. Phebe Baldwin, 1772; and had Phebe, b. Dec. 7, 1774. Winnifred, b. Aug. 18, 1776. Mary, b. Aug. 26, 1778. Rebeckah, b. Jan. 22, 1781. Ebenezer, b. May 31, 1783. James, b. March 3, 1787. Aaron, b. June 25, 1789. BALDWIN, JAMES. His wife’s name was Lucinda. They had Lucy, b. April 16, 1807. John S., b. Sept. 26, 1808. BALDWIN, STEPHEN, m. Elizabeth Baldwin, 1759; and had … Read more

Woodruff Genealogy – Leicester MA

Woodruff, Frederick O. (8), William B. (7), Hiram (6), David (5), Noah (4), David (3), Samuel (2), Matthew (1). m. Fannie Sturtevant, Feb. 18, 1880. Frederick Orr Woodruff was educated in the public schools of Chelsea, Massachusetts, and Wheelers Preparatory School. After completing his studies at the age of nineteen years, he entered the employ of the old Publishing House of Ira Bradley & Co. on Cornhill, which concern was established the year Mr. Woodruff was born. In a few years he became a partner of the firm, the style of which was then changed to Bradley & Woodruff. In … Read more

Babbit Genealogy – Leicester MA

BABBIT, SAMUEL. His first wife’s name was Abigail. They had Abigail, b. Sept. 8, 1762. His second, Bathsheba; and they had Silas, b. Oct. 1, 1764. Sanford, b. Dec. 17, 1765.

Biography of John Brown

John Brown (nephew of Capt. Brown), born February 10, 1774, at Leicester, Massachusetts, married Miss Polly Green, of ,Spencer, Massachusetts, in 1797, and set out for the Ohio Company’s purchase in the autumn of 1801. He brought his young family and few effects over the mountains, with one horse, in a little wagon, and, when descending difficult places in the road, attached a small tree to the rear end of his wagon, to act as a break, or lock. When he reached Wheeling, on the Ohio river, after a most toilsome journey, he “swapped” his wagon for a canoe and … Read more

Descendants of Matthew Watson of Leicester, Massachusetts

Watson Coat of arms

Matthew Watson (d. 1720), of English lineage, married Mary Orr in 1695, and in 1718 the family immigrated from Ireland to Boston, Massachusetts and settled in Leicester, Massachusetts. Descendants and relatives lived in New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Nebraska, Rhode Island, California, Nevada, Michigan and elsewhere. Includes Watson, Armington, Bemis, Denny, Draper, Kent, Washburn, Bailey, Barnard, Belcher, Bent, Biscoe, Bolles, Breckenridge, Bright, Browning, Bryant, Bullock, Burrage, Dennis, Fisher, Foster, Green, Hayward, Hobbs, Hodgkins, Holman, Howard, Jenks, Jones, Kellogg, Kitchell, Knight, Lazelle, Livermore, Loring, Mason, Maynard, Munger, Patrick, Prouty, Remington, Reed, Rice, Richardson, Rogers, Sadler, Sibley, Snow, Sprague, Stone, Studley, Symonds, Taitt, Thomas, Thompson, Trask, Tucker, Waite, Webster, Westcott, Wheeler, Whittermore, Wilson, Woods and related families.

The Emerson Brothers of Norwich Vermont

About the year 1792, Elihu Emerson, just then arrived at his majority, came to Norwich Vermont from Westfield, Massachusetts; followed in 1795 by Joseph and later by Thomas, two younger brothers. These young men became heads of families, and were prominent residents in town for many years. Elihu was a blacksmith by trade, and carried on business in a shop that he built a short distance north of his residence on “Norwich Plain” For his first wife Mr. Emerson married Thankful Grant, and for his second wife Cynthia Brooks. The first wife died in 1834, aged fifty-eight years, and the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Wires

John Wires came to this town, from Leicester, Mass., about the year 1790. In 1797, he married Miss Anna Walbridge, and shortly after purchased a farm on road 32, now owned by his son, Harlow, and where he spent the remainder of his life. He was for many years known as Gen. John Wires, having served at the battle of Plattsburgh, and also held offices in the home militia. He was high sheriff of Franklin county for twenty years, and also held other positions of trust. Of fourteen children seven are now living. Harlow, the youngest, born in 1830, and … Read more