Ancestor Report
Ancestor Report
Sixth Generation
48. Capt. Zachariah FITCH12, GGG Grandfather, son of 96. Zachariah FITCH & 97. Elizabeth GRIMES. Born on 1 Apr 1734 in Bedford, Massachusetts. Died on 2 Sep 1820.
According to Stearns’ Fitch genealogy,12 Zachariah Fitch “is known as Capt. Zachariah Fitch of Groton, and his name is frequently met in the annals of his time. He served in the French and Indian Wars, and was a lieutenant and later a captain in the Revolution, and distinguished in civil affairs.” His entry in MSSWR30 reads as follows: “FITCH, ZACHARIAH, Groton. 1st Lieutenant, Capt. Henry Farwell’s co. of Minute-men, Col. William Prescott’s regt., which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775; service, 11 days; also, Captain, Col. Samuel Brewer’s regt.; engaged Aug. 3, 1776; service, 1 mo. 28 days; also, same regt.; pay abstract for mileage from Ticonderoga home, dated Dec., --, 1776.”
Zachariah Fitch held many town offices throughout his life, including keeper of one of the town’s bridges over the Nashua River. According to Butler’s History of Groton31, in October 1779 the town voted “‘That Capt. Fitch, Samuel Hemenway, John Simonds, James Adams, Caleb Blood, and Jacob Gragg, (persons living on the west side of the river,) be excused from any proportion of the highway taxes in this town in future, so long as they shall agree to keep in repair the bridge mentioned in the 12th article.’
“In April, 1803, Capt. Zachariah Fitch proposed to the town, that he would support the bridge and the two highways leading from it on the easterly side of the river the distance of twenty rods, for the sum of thirty dollars per annum, which proposition the town accepted.
“In 1806 a committee was chosen to consider and report [p. 57] what was expedient relating to the support of that bridge, who reported that Capt. Fitch ought in justice to have a grant of thirty dollars, to make present repairs, and in addition to thirty dollars annually, his proportion of the highway tax in future. This report was accepted. Capt. Fitch and his heirs have supported said bridge ever since.”
Some of his children settled near Sebago Lake, Maine, on lands he was granted for his Revolutionary service. See this website:
http://home.gwi.net/~mja114/sebago.htm
for an account of Fitch’s General Store in Sebago: “For 167 years, the Fitch family gave service to East Sebago and the area around this part of the Lakes Region. Fitch's General Store was a store that people depended on for years. Fitch's Store had most everything that you wanted. From bins to nails, Coffee makers to glass. Even keys could be made. Luther Fitch founded the store in 1830. It burnt in 1850. In 1909, Monty Fitch (Luther's Grandson ) bought the store. Just as the business was building up, the store met another disaster. It was struck by lightning in Oct. 3,1919 while Monty was on a vacation. He then moved the business into a converted stable that was attached to the house. He made it into a store and reopened it in 1920. Monty died in 1957. His son Laurence took over the business. Laurence and his English born wife,Vera, both continued to operate the business for the area. Laurence and Vera had a daughter Jill and two sons; Ward and Jack. Robert was Vera's son from another marriage. Laurence died Spring'97. Vera and her son, Jack operated the store until November. The memories are all we have now. The Fitch family gave us (not only a great general store) but, they gave us wonderful memories. Laurence and Vera always had a smile. Always willing to help.”
49. Sibyl LAKIN12,32, GGG Grandmother, daughter of 98. John LAKIN & 99. Lydia PARKER. Born on 16 Oct 1739. Died on 11 Oct 1806.
50. Josiah DAVIS13, GGG Grandfather, son of 100. Timothy DAVIS & 101. Hannah SMITH. Born on 24 May 1753 in Townsend, Massachusetts. Died in Townsend, Massachusetts, on 31 Dec 1837.
There are several Josiah Davises in MSSWR; this is probably Josiah Davis of Townsend33 who served in Capt. Henry Farwell’s company of Col. William Prescott’s regiment, but careful work is needed to establish the identity.
51. Sarah SAWTELL13, GGG Grandmother, daughter of 102. Amos SAWTELL & 103. Elizabeth FLETCHER. Born on 7 May 1761 in Townsend, Massachusetts. Died on 12 Mar 1825. Buried in Townsend, Massachusetts.
52. Samuel PRATT34, GGG Grandfather, son of 104. James PRATT & 105. Zerviah RUGG. Born on 15 Oct 1772 in Lancaster, Massachusetts. was baptized on 18 Oct 1772 in Lancaster, Massachusetts.35 Died on 9 Sep 1845. Buried in Chester, Vermont (Brookside Cemetery).
“SAMUEL, 15 Oct 1772, Lancaster, Ma., s/o James b. 1752 and Zerviah (Rugg). Fa d. 1784; Worc. Co. Prob. #47767 is guard. pet’n for Samuel, minor Lancaster. M. there 5 May 1799 Mary HENRY. Two chn in nearby Sterling VR for Samuel and Mary. Other chn in B#536 wh. ind. they also res. Antrim (Hillsboro) NH. On p. 349 Worc. Co., Ma. 1800: 10010-00010. Rem. w/bro James Jr. to Windham Co., Vt. IGI lists chn of Samuel, w. unnamed, at Barnard (Windsor) Vt.; some of them in VR for Samuel and Mary. Ind. p. 476 there 1810. He d. 9 Sept 1845, age 73. Widow Mary d. 12 May 1852, age 78; bur. at Chester Cem’y.”
Rupp gives his birthdate as 19 Oct 1772 and his birthplace as Barre, Massachusetts.36
The children Martha, Rosella, and Alanda are not listed by Rupp, who says the seven children she does record were “all b. in Sterling, Mass.”36 The published vital records of Sterling list the first two children, Samuel Henry and Mary Foster, but not the others.18
He married Mary HENRY37,14, GGG Grandmother on 5 May 1799 Lancaster, Massachusetts.
53. Mary HENRY37,14, GGG Grandmother, daughter of 106. Robert HENRY & 107. Susanna YOUNG. Born on 5 Aug 1774 in Leicester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.14 Died on 12 May 1852.41,34 Buried in Chester, Vermont (Brookside Cemetery).
The ancestry of Mary Henry now given here is based on Rupp’s chapter in the Henry Genealogy, although some chronological details of the earliest branches may have been subject to romantic embellishment.42
54. John SLEEPER43,19, GGG Grandfather, son of 108. Moses SLEEPER. Born on 26 Oct 1786. Died in Francestown, New Hampshire, on 25 Mar 1853. Of Francestown, New Hampshire.
“He lived upon the place first owned by his father, where he died, Mch. 25, 1853, aged 66.”22
The site search.labs.familysearch.org gives their date of marriage as 25 July 1809.44
55. Lydia DODGE19, GGG Grandmother, daughter of 110. Simeon DODGE & 111. Mary BALCH. Born on 16 Feb 1790. Died on 25 Jan 1862.
According to the Dodge Genealogy,21 Lydia Dodge was “b. 16 February, 1790; d. 25 January, 1862, aged 72. She m. John Sleeper, b. 26 October, 1786, a successful farmer in Francestown, N. H. Of eleven children only two survived in 1880.” A list of their children follows.
56. Isaac WOODS47,10, GGG Grandfather, son of 112. Isaac Stevens WOODS & 113. Prudence LAKIN. Born on 24 May 1800 in Dunstable, Massachusetts. Died in Groton, Massachusetts, on 29 Oct 1841.
Skeate48 lists nine children for Isaac Woods and Eliza Shattuck: Louiza, Otis, Isaac Newton, George Washington, Sumner, Augusta Keene, Albert, Caroline, and Catherine. May’s list49 differs slightly: she spells the first child’s name Louisa, she identifies the sixth child as Augustus Keen (male) rather than Augusta Keene, and after Albert she identifies an additional child, Harriet, b. Groton 17 Apr 1838, d. 13 Feb 1878. May was also unclear about the twins Caroline and Catherine: she lists Catherine with the note “Her name may have been Caroline. We can find nothing about her.” May provides full details on the family of Augustus Keen (who m. Fannie Elizabeth Gilson), so Skeate’s identification of this child as female must be incorrect. May notes that Louisa’s name was “pronounced the old-fashioned-way-Louisa” which may account for the difference in spelling. May also provides full details on the child Harriet (she m. Samuel Chase as his 2nd wife), so it seems likely that Skeate missed this child in her account.
He married Eliza SHATTUCK50,47,10, GGG Grandmother on 26 Mar 1821 Groton, Massachusetts.
They had the following children:
i.
Louisa, GGG Aunt (1821-1888)
ii.
Otis, GGG Uncle (1823-1887)
iii.
Isaac Newton, GGG Uncle (1826-1891)
iv.
George Washington, GGG Uncle (1828-1868)
28v.
Sumner, GG Grandfather (1831-1918)
vi.
Augustus Keen, GGG Uncle (1834-1903)
vii.
Albert (Died as Child), GGG Uncle (1837-)
viii.
Harriet, GGG Aunt (1839-1878)
ix.
Caroline (Twin), GGG Aunt (1841-)
x.
Catherine (Twin), GGG Aunt (1841-)
57. Eliza SHATTUCK50,47,10, GGG Grandmother, daughter of 114. Job SHATTUCK & 115. Elizabeth BLOOD. Born on 11 Dec 1801 in Groton, Massachusetts. Died on 12 Jan 1849.47
According to May49, Eliza Shattuck “was born in the old [Shattuck] homestead still standing near Wattle’s Pond on the road from Groton to East Pepperell.”
58. Charles TURRELL/TERRILL51, GGG Grandfather, son of 116. Peter TURRELL & 117. Sarah (Sally) BLOOD. Born on 12 Aug 1813. Died on 18 Aug 1858.
He married Ruth SEARLES51, GGG Grandmother.
60. Sylvester P. W. PARKHURST29, GGG Grandfather, son of 120. Joseph PARKHURST & 121. Rhoda WYMAN. Born on 24 Jun 1810 in Bedford, Massachusetts.54 Died in Brookline, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, on 21 Jan 1841.
He married Harriett Newel BURGESS29, GGG Grandmother.
They had the following children:
30i.
Sylvester Addison, GG Grandfather (1837-1909)
ii.
Harriett Ann, GGG Aunt (1839->1860)
61. Harriett Newel BURGESS29, GGG Grandmother, daughter of 122. Asa BURGESS & 123. Lydia Walker STEARNS. Born on 24 Sep 1820 in Boxboro, Massachusetts. Died aft 1860.
62. Thomas CUMMINGS55, GGG Grandfather, son of 124. Thomas CUMMINGS & 125. Elizabeth (Mary?) HILDRETH. Born 1782 or 1783 in Deerfield, New York. Died on 22 Feb 1865.
According to Mooar’s Descendants of Isaac Cummings56, “418. THOMAS CUMMINGS (Thomas7, Thomas6, Thomas5, John4, John3, John2, Isaac1) married, Sept. 14, 1815, Lucinda, daughter of Reuben and Sarah (Read) Wright, born in 1797. She died July 30, 1851. He removed from Deerfield, N.Y., to Westford, Mass., and had a grist mill at the bridge, below Sargent’s works, at Graniteville. His house was burnt and the first three children burned with it, May 28, 1819. He removed to Tyngsboro, Mass. He died Feb. 22, 1865.”
Note that the birthdates given by Mooar for the third and fourth children (Thomas and Walter Hildreth) are too close together for them both to be correct. Westford Days57 provides further information on the family of Walter Hildreth Cummings but does not mention the possible confusion regarding his birthdate.
He married Lucinda WRIGHT55, GGG Grandmother on 14 Sep 1815 Westford, Massachusetts.
They had the following children:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
ix.
x.
xi.
xii.
xiii.
xiv.
xv.
31xvi.
Sarah Melissa, GG Grandmother (1837-)
xvii.
xviii.
xix.
63. Lucinda WRIGHT55, GGG Grandmother, daughter of 126. Reuben WRIGHT & 127. Sarah READ. Born on 9 Jun 1797 in Westford, Massachusetts.58 Died on 30 Jul 1851.
