Troy Massachusetts Genealogy – Access Genealogy

Slade Family of Somerset-Fall River, Massachusetts

For the past hundred years – during almost the lifetime, as it were, of Fall River and its entire industrial life – the name Slade has been continually identified with that industrial life and also prominent in other lines of effort in that great city of spindles. In 1812-13, when the real substantial pioneer establishments in the cloth making industry of Fall River were projected and completed – the Troy Cotton and Woolen Manufactory and the Fall River Manufactory – began the Slade name in this connection, Eber Slade of Somerset being one of the most prominent promoters of one of the corporations; he became its first treasurer and filled the position until in the middle twenties. William Slade of Somerset was one of the owners of the site of these first establishments, and was himself an original proprietor of the Pocasset and Watuppa Manufacturing Companies. The brothers Jonathan and William Lawton Slade were among the founders of the celebrated cotton mills of Fall River, both becoming presidents of the corporation. John Palmer Slade, another of Somerset’s sons, figured largely not only in the industrial life of the city but in other lines, becoming president of both the Shove and Laurel Lake Mills. George W. Slade, one of the “forty-niners” of the Pacific coast, was for full fifty years one of the extensive and wholesale merchants of Fall River and his name, too, is coupled with the city’s industrial life. And of younger generations one or more of the sons of some of these are at this time officially and otherwise connected with this industrial life and in other lines, notably Leonard N. and Everett N. Slade, of the firm of John P. Slade & Son, insurance and real estate; David F. Slade, member of the law firm of Slade & Borden; and Abbott E. Slade, now treasurer of the Laurel Lake Mills.

Ancestors of the Rufus W. Bassett Family of Fall River, Massachusetts

The Bassett family of Fall River, Massachusetts, descends from William Bassett, who emigrated from England in 1620. Prominent members include Hon. Rufus W. Bassett, a significant figure in local politics and business, serving on various councils and boards. The family’s lineage includes several generations, with connections across Massachusetts towns such as Duxbury, Bridgewater, and Rochester. Notably, Rufus W. Bassett’s contributions to the city’s governance and his family’s rich history reflect the enduring legacy of the Bassett lineage within the region.

Descendants of Rev. George Shove of Fall River, MA

Rev. George Shove, ordained in 1665, served as the third minister of Taunton and contributed significantly to local secular matters, particularly as a landowner. He married Hopestill Newman, followed by two additional marriages, and fathered several children, including Edward, who continued the family legacy. The Shove family became influential in Fall River, with descendants like Charles O. Shove excelling in the textile industry and community service. Charles O. was known for his leadership at the Granite Mills, while his brother Edward pursued a successful career as a cotton broker.

Skeleton In Armor

The discovery of human skeletons in armor near Fall River, Massachusetts, sparked various theories regarding their origins, including connections to Carthaginian adventurers and Norse voyagers. However, a closer examination reveals these remains likely belonged to North American Indians, dated not long before their discovery. The skeletal features, alongside rudimentary copper artifacts like arrowheads and a belt, indicate that these were not crafted for warfare but were typical of the local indigenous culture. Thus, the Fall River skeletons embody a significant historical narrative, suggesting a relatively recent Native American presence.