Northfield Massachusetts

Biography of Allen, Nathaniel Topliff

Allen, Nathaniel Topliff, son of Ellis and Lucy (Lane) Allen, was born in Medfield, Norfolk County, Sept. 29, 1823. His native homestead farm has been owned and tilled by seven generations of Allens, noted for longevity, sterling common-sense, and rugged worth; and there, during his boyhood, the subject of this sketch followed the pursuits of his ancestors, and laid the foundation of a vigorous constitution. Three years of his minority were spent in a Waltham cotton mill, where he acquired a knowledge of textile manufacture; he also received a good common-school education in the public schools, a family school kept … Read more

Narrative of the Captivity of Quintin Stockwell – Indian Captivities

Quintin Stockwell, Who was taken at Deerfield, in Massachusetts, by a Party of Inland Indians, in the Year 1677; Communicated in his own Words, and Originally Published by the Eminent Dr. Increase Mather, in the Year 1684. A particular account of the interruption in which Stockwell and others fell into the hands of the Indians will be found in the Book of the Indians, Book iii, p. 97 and 98. Out of twenty-four at that time killed and taken, we learn the names only of these; Quintin Stockwell, John Root, Sergeant Plimpton, Benjamin Stebbins, his wife, Benjamin Waite, and Samuel … Read more

Biography of Charles Jerome King

CHARLES JEROME KING, postmaster at South Amherst, Massachusetts, and leading merchant in the town, was born at Wynantskill, a village near Troy, New York, February 14, 1875. The family has made its home in the vicinity of Suffield, Connecticut, for successive generations since the first immigrant ancestor set foot in America, and the fact that the father of Charles Jerome King was born in Suffield seems to establish his descent from the first Kings to live in the United States. Although the origin of the name is uncertain, students incline to think it was derived from the practice of holding … Read more

Biography of Charles Franklin Slate

CHARLES FRANKLIN SLATE, prominent in Northfield and esteemed in every circle in which he moves, he has for the past two years served as postmaster of this community, and in his thoroughly efficient administration the people are recognizing and appreciating the hand of the capable and forward looking executive. Mr. Slate is interested in every branch of local and general progress and in his endeavors for the public good he has long filled a useful part in the community. The Slate family has been identified with American progress for about two centuries and the name is an honored one in … Read more

Biography of Frank Lyman Gold

FRANK LYMAN GOLD-A man of wide and varied activities, each of which he has carried on successfully after he had gained full knowledge of the field of business into which he was entering, the story of Frank Lyman Gold is full of interest. (I) He belongs to a notable old New England family, whose founder was Joseph Gold, born in London, England, who came to America when he was nineteen years old. According to family records, he served for seven years in the Revolutionary War, lived for a time in Northbury, Connecticut, and died in Roxbury, Vermont, in 1829. He … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Dickinson

John Dickinson, from Northfield, Mass., came here in 1790, located in the southern part, where he resided until his death, in 1826. Three of his nine children are now living, and one, Samuel, in this town, on road 22. Samuel has three children, all in this town as follows : Aurella E., wife of F. S. Edwards; Loraine, wife of Charles Holmes; and Royal A., who married Ellen Hebb, in 1866, the union having been blessed with four children.

Lydia Todd Doolittle of Northfield MA

DOOLITTLE, Lydia Todd4, (Samuel3, Samuel2 Christopher1) born July 28, 1699, died Jan. 16, 1792, married Oct. 24, 1717, Rev. Benjamin, son of John and Mary (Peck) Doolittle, who was born July 10, 1695, died Jan. 9, 1748. He graduated from Yale, 1716; was ordained pastor of the church in Northfield, Mass., 1718, with an annual salary of 65 pounds, and quite a liberal amount of money and land as a settlement. On the Northfield records one of the highways is laid out, “From Pockany Meadow to a little brook where Mr. Doolittle’s horse died.” The following is on his gravestone. … Read more

Biography of Ansel Clark Ernest Stimson

ANSEL CLARK ERNEST STIMSON – The Stimson family were settlers in the State of Vermont for generations before one of their members came to Massachusetts and founded a large family. (I) Charles Stimson came from Dunnerstown, Vermont, to Northfield, Massachusetts. He was a cooper by trade and died in Northfield. He married Anna Robbins, and their children were: 1. Lucy. 2. Lydia. 3. William 4. Polly. 5. Charles Ezra. 6. Jonathan. 7. Royal E. 8. Sarah. 9. Lucius, of further mention. (II) Lucius Stimson was a native of Northfield, where he was born in 1825, and died at Erving, in … Read more

Grinnell Family of New Bedford, MA

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Since the early settlement of Newport and Portsmouth, R. I., shortly after 1638, the Grinnells have been identified with Rhode Island and Massachusetts history, the earlier generations living largely in the towns of Newport county, R. I., and for the past hundred and more years branches of this southern Rhode Island family have been representative of the best citizenship in the old Massachusetts town of New Bedford. At New Bedford lived Capt. Cornelius Grinnell, a patriot of the Revolution, and long engaged in the merchant service, who married into the old historic Howland family, and one of whose sons, Joseph Grinnell, for almost a decade represented the New Bedford district in the United States Congress, and was long prominent as a merchant and manufacturer and banker of the town; and there lived the late Lawrence Grinnell, father of the late Frederick Grinnell, who so long was at the head of the Providence Steam and Gas Pipe Company and the General Eire Extinguisher Company, a man of genius in mechanical lines, whose inventions gave him distinction, and one of whose sons, Russell Grinnell, is at this time vice president of the General Fire Extinguisher Company. It is with this New Bedford branch of the Grinnell family this article deals.