his brother, a corn mill from their father, and it was in this mill that he met his untimely death, which is described in the minutes and records of East Cambridge, as follows: "We, Isaac Brooks and James Thompson, being about the 21 of February ..69, in the Corne mill belonging to the Converses, at Woodburne, on of a suddaine we heard a voice about the mill wheel saying, stop the wheel, upon wh, the said Thompson did run to the mill gate & looking towards the mill wheel he saw as he thought a man laid down and cried out my unkle is killed. Isaac in the mean time did run to the water wheel and found Samuel Convers with his head fastened between the water wheel and the water wall." "The said Thompson in the mean time did shut the gate and came running to the sd Brooks. Now the water wheel being turned backwards did raise him upwards and wee seeing his head cleared went unto him and did take him up alive who bled excessively. We did carry him into his house and soon after we brought him in bleding stopped & in about half an hours time as we conceive he was quite departed.' He was married June 8, 1660, to Judith Carter, who survived him, and afterward married Giles Fifield, and died in 1677. Her father, Rev. Thomas Carter, was a minister in Woburn, where he preached forty-two years, and died September 5, 1684, aged seventy-four years. He embarked from London, England, in 1635, on board the "Planter," and took the freeman's oath in Dedham, Massachusetts, March 9, 1636, and moved to Watertown, where he had a ten-acre lot and also ninety acres of farm land aside from his homestead. He became a minister at Woburn in 1642. He was described as a "reverend, godly man, apt to teach the sound soul and wholesome truths of Christ." The children of Samuel and Judith Convers were: Samuel and Abigail. (III) Samuel (2), only son of Samuel (1) and Judith (Carter) Convers, was born about 1662, in Woburn, was left fatherless at the age of seven years, and was but sixteen years of age at the time of his mother's death. After her second marriage she resided in Charlestown, where he lived until her death. In 1710 he, with his family, removed to Thompson parish, Killingly, Connecticut, where he settled on a farm, he being the first settler at Thompson. His farm was located where, later, the village of Putnam was laid out, and was sixty miles due west from Boston. They found their way to this (then) wilderness by means of blazed trees. In 1716 he sold and purchased other lands where his sons settled and where they were active in building the Thompson meeting house, his name heading the list of members at date of organization in 1730. He was married, prior to 1694, to Dorcas (whose maiden name is unknown); and their children were: Samuel, Edward, Thomas, Dorcas, Pain and Josiah. He (IV) Edward, second son of Samuel (2) and Dorcas Convers, born in Woburn, September 25, 1696, died at Thompson, Connecticut, July 9, 1784. At the age of fourteen he accompanied his parents to Thompson, and received from his father a farm of fifty acres near the old homestead, where he built the house occupied by himself and sons, the well known "Convers Tavern." He was a man of remarkable energy and was very prominent in public affairs, including church work. was also active in military affairs, serving as ensign for many years. He repaired bridges, surveyed lands, collected and distributed school money and settled with destrained Baptists, on "easy terms as he could." He was chosen constable in 1732. His tavern was well patronized, and "Landlord Convers" school district heads the list of those laid out in 1762. He was married August 6, 1717, to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth Cooper. She died February 19, 1776, in her seventy-sixth year. Their children were: James, Edward, Jonathan, Jacob, Asa, Jesse, Elizabeth (died young), Zacharias, Elizabeth and Susanna. (V) Captain Edward (2), second son of Ensign Edward (1) and Elizabeth (Cooper) Convers, baptized November 8, 1720, at Killingly, Connecticut, died December, 1800, at Windsor, Massachusetts. He was a farmer and occupied a farm on the river, which he received from his father-in-law. He was appointed captain of Company 7, Eleventh Regiment of militia, united with the church in 1741, and was a very active member of that society. He was married to Mary Davis, whose father had bought a large farm on French river in 1715. Their children were: Samuel Davis, Edward (died young), Edward, Amasa, Mary and Abigail. (VI) Samuel Davis, eldest son of Captain Edward (2) and Mary (Davis) Convers, born February 1, 1741, baptized February 17, 1742, died in South Worthington, Massachusetts. He lived in Chesterfield, New Hampshire, until 1782, when he removed to Dummerston, Vermont, and he later removed from that place to South Worthington, where he died at his son Elisha's home. He was one of thir teen inhabitants of Chesterfield, reported as refusing to sign the famous "Association Test." He was a private in the Chesterfield company, under Lieutenant Robertson, who marched to Ticonderoga, June 29, 1777. He was married to Elizabeth Harris, and they were the parents of the following children: Willard, Elizabeth, Walter, John, Elisha and Polly. (VII) Dr. John, third son of Samuel Davis and Elizabeth (Harris) Converse, was born. March 5, 1772, Chesterfield. He settled in Durham, Maine, before 1797, and lived in a house on the north side of "Eunice's Brook," and afterward built a house on the bank of the river. The History of Durham says of him: "Dr. Converse still lives in tradition as a good citizen and skilful physician." He died December 5, 1815, aged forty-three years, and is buried in the old cemetery near the North Meeting House, and the epitaph on his tombstone reads thus: "Thousands of journies night and day I've traveled, weary all the way, To heal the sick, but now I'm gone A journey never to return." He was married March 17, 1799, to Sally, daughter of Ichabod and Abigail (Hayes) Hanson, of Windham, who was born October 4, 1774. Their children were: Orilla, Veranus, Sally, Mary, Minerva, John Harris, Elizabeth, Harriet and Laura W. (VIII) Mary, fourth child of Dr. John and Sally (Hanson) Converse, born November 19, 1804, was married October 5, 1827, to Edward Merrill, of New Bedford, Massachusetts (see Merrill, VII). (VIII) Minerva, fifth child of Dr. John and Sally (Hanson) Converse, was born February 27, 1807, in Durham, and became the wife of William R. Kendall, of Freeport, Maine (see Kendall, VII). (VIII) John Harris, youngest son of Dr. John and Sally (Hanson) Converse, born December 27, 1808, at Durham, died June 13, 1880, at Newcastle, and was buried in Glidden street cemetery. He was probate judge of Lincoln county from 1862 to 1876, and had the respect and esteem of all with whom he associated. He was married June 7, 1836, to Mary Ann, daughter of John Horn and Lydia (Watson) Connor, born in Belfast, Maine, June 21, 1812, died January 22, 1892, at Christ Church Home, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Their children were: William Hubbard, died in Newton, Kansas; Edward Merrill; Frank Horn, died Malden, Massachusetts, and was buried in Forestdale cemetery, that city. This is an English family CUSHING whose members have borne well their part in the development of this country, where the name has been prominent since the landing of the American ancestor. Like most proper names, this was most variously spelled before the sixteenth century, as shown by wills, deeds and other legal documents, still extant in Norfolk, England, where it may be found written in the following forms: Cushyng, Cushyn, Cushin, Cosyn, Cussheyn and other variations. Before the fourteenth century it was usually spelled Cusyn or Cosseyn; the final g does not appear until fifteen hundred, when the name was spelled Cushyng. It is presumed that the name is derived from usage in connection with the land title of Cossey, a part of which landed estate was possessed by the Cushings for several generations. The first work of much importance in tracing the history of this family was undertaken by Caleb Cushing, who traced it to England in the vicinity of Norfolk, and there it was taken up by a professional geneologist of London. From the ancient manuscripts in the British Museum and other available sources, the fact is established that the name was a leading one in Norfolk county during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, including lords of numerous manors. Seven generations of English ancestry have been authentically established. (I) William Cussyn, born in the fourteenth century, was a son or probably a grandson of Galfirdus Cusyn, of Norfolk county, named in the records in 1327. (II) Thomas Cushing (Cussheyn), was born at Hardingham, England, in the latter part of the reign of Richard II. (1737-99). A deed executed in 1366 contains his name and the name of his son William. (III) William, eldest son and heir of Thomas Cushing, was born early in the fifteenth century at Hardingham, and lived at Hardingham, England. In his will, dated September, 1492, he was styled gentleman. His wife Emma bore him eight children. (IV) John, eldest son of William and Emma Cushing, was born on the old homestead which his father had lived on. He also owned large interests at Lombard street in London. His will mentions six children. (VI) Peter, son of Thomas (2) Cushing, was born at Hardingham, and was buried there April 26, 1641. He was probably one of the first Cushings to embrace the Protestant faith. He married Susan Hawes, and their children were: Theopolis, Bridget, Matthew, William, Barbara, Peter, of London, Catharine, and Thomas, of London. The eldest came to New England in 1633 in company with Governor Haynes, and the Puritan divines, Cotton and Hooker. (VII) Mathew, second son of Peter and Susan (Hawes) Cushing, was baptized March 2, 1589, in Hardington, England. For the first fifty years of his life he resided in his native place, and in Hardingham, Norfolk county, England, whence he came in 1638, accompanied by his wife and five children, and his wife's sister, Widow Frances Riecroft, who died a few weeks after their arrival in America. They embarked at Gravesend in the ship "Diligent," of Ipswich, April 26, 1638, being among the one hundred and thirty-three passengers of that voyage. The immediate cause of their departure from England was trouble in ecclesiastical matters. Their rector, in sympathy with the immigrants mentioned, pulled down the rails of the chancery and altar, and levelled the altar a foot lower than the church, as it remains to this day. Being prosecuted by the ecclesiastical authorities, he left the kingdom, accompanied by his friends, who disposed of their estates at about one-half their true value. The party landed at Boston, Massachusetts, August 10, 1638, and immediately proceeded to the settlement of the town, which was named Hingham, in honor of the home of the Cushings in England. At a town meeting in 1638, a house lot of five acres, below Pear Tree hill, at Bachelor (now Main) street, was granted to Mathew Cushing, and this property remained in the possession of the family until 1887. Mathew Cushing early became prominent in the management of public affairs, and was a deacon in Rev. Hobart's church. He was the progenitor of many eminent descendants. His will was an oral one, but was later written after his death, by his children, who procured the appointment of his eldest son as administrator, November 15, 1660. In the record of this will in Hingham the name is spelled Cushin. Mathew Cushing was married August 5, 1613, to Nasareth, daughter of Henry Pitcher, the famous Admiral Pitcher of England. She was baptized October 30, 1586, and died in Hingham, January 6, 1682, in her ninety-sixth year, having survived her husband more than twenty-one years. He passed away September 30, 1660. Their children, all born in Hardingham, England, were: Daniel, Jeremiah, Mathew, Deborah and John. (VIII) John (2), youngest son of Mathew and Nasareth (Pitcher) Cushing, was born in 1627 in Hardingham, England, and was about eleven years of age when he came with his parents to this country. He remained in Hingham, Massachusetts, until after the death of his father, and removed in 1662 to Scituate, Massachusetts, settling on a piece of ground at "Belle House Neck," which he had purchased in 1659. The land consisted of one hundred and twenty acres, with house and barn, and he was joined in its purchase by Mathias Briggs, the purchase price being one pound per acre. The locality receives its name from the fact that a bell was hung on this house for a period of a century, to give alarm to the neighboring country in case of an Indian attack. In 1663 John Cushing was surveyor of highways in Scituate, and in 1667 receiver of excises. He was deputy in 1674 and often re-elected. In 1663 he was on a committee for dividing lands, and in 1676 was chosen to report to the governor all services of the soldiers of Scituate in the war with King Phillip. He was a selectman from 1674 to 1686 inclusive, and a magistrate of Plymouth county from 1685 to 1692. He was assistant to the old colonial governor of Plymouth from 1689 to 1691, and a representative to the general court in Boston in 1692, and several years thereafter. He was a member of the colonial council in 1706-07, and a colonel of the Plymouth regiment of militia. He was married in Hingham, July 20, 1658, to Sarah, daughter of Mathew and Margaret Hawke. She died in Scituate, March 9, 1679, and was survived by her husband more than twenty-nine years, until March 31, 1708. Their first child was born in Hingham, and the others in Scituate. They were: John, Thomas, Mathew, Jeremiah, James, Josiah, Sarah, Caleb, Deborah, Mary, Joseph and Benjamin. (IX) Rev. Caleb, seventh son of John (2) and Margaret (Hawke) Cushing, was born January 16, 1673, in Scituate, was baptized May 11, following, and died January 25, 1752. He graduated from Harvard College in 1692, went to Salisbury in March, 1696, and was ordained a minister of the First Church there in 1698. He was one of the numerous signers of the document unfavorable to the itinerary Whitfield, and endorsing the proceedings of the Harvard College in 1744, in reference to his career. His pastorate for the Salisbury church covered a period of fifty-six years. The minister who had charge of his funeral exclaimed: "We know not the man in the county of Essex who has moulded a superior and deeper influence on the minds of his people than this favorable divine." He was a man of most exemplary conversation, a prudent and truly wise councillor. He was married March 14, 1698, to Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. John Cotton, and widow of Rev. James Alling, his predecessor as minister at Salisbury. His children were: Caleb, James, John and Elizabeth. (X) Rev. John (3), youngest son of Rev. Caleb and Elizabeth (Cotton) Cushing, born April 10, 1709, in Salisbury, died January 25, 1772. He graduated from Harvard College in 1729, and was ordained minister December 29, 1736, and became the first minister of the Second Church of Boxford, Massachusetts. He was married April 8, 1734, to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Sarah (White) Martin, of Boston, who was born May 16, 1714, and died October 18, 1789, in Durham, Maine. One child blessed this union, namely: John. He (XI) John (4), only child of Rev. John (3) and Elizabeth (Martin) Cushing, born May 1, 1741, in Boxford, died December 26, 1812, aged seventy-two years, in Freeport, Maine. He was buried in the old churchyard, and the inscription on the tombstone reads, "To the memory of the Hon. John Cushing, Esq., who died December 26, 1812, aged 72, Help Lord for the godly man ceaseth, for the faithful fail from among the children of men." He graduated from Harvard College in 1761, receiving the degree of A. M. four years later. He responded to the Lexington alarm on April 19, 1775, being captain of a company in Colonel Samuel Johnson's regiment, and was again in the service in 1776. built a house, and settled in Salisbury, Massachusetts, whence he removed to Boxford at the death of his father. In 1780 he removed to North Yarmouth, Maine, thence to Royalsburgh, and finally settled in Freeport, Maine. He served in many official capacities with satisfaction to his constituency, filling the offices of selectman, town treasurer, justice of the peace, judge and a member of the council for many years, and was a representative to the general court of Massachusetts. was elected deacon of the church in Freeport, April 24, 1793, and faithfully performed the duties in that office for twenty years. He was state senator from the Cumberland district, and an active member of the board of overseers of Bowdoin College. He was married He December 1, 1763, to Dorothy, daughter of Colonel Bagley, of Amesbury. She was born February 13, 1745, and died in 1815. Their children were: Elizabeth, Dorothy, John, Jonathan, Edward and Sarah (who died young, and on the same day). (XII) Dorothy, second child of Hon. John (4) and Dorothy (Bagley) Cushing, was born May 2, 1769, in Salisbury, Massachusetts, and died December 28, 1863, at Litchfield, Maine. She was married February 2, 1785, to Roger Merrill. (See Merrill, VI.) This surname is derived, acCARLETON cording to some authorities, from the place name in England. Carleton is from the Saxon word coerl (husbandman) and town. The English family traces the pedigree to Baldwin de Carleton, of Carleton, near Penrith, Cumberland, in 1066. The coat-of-arms is: Argent a bend sable, three mascles of the field. The crest: out of a ducal coronet or, a unicorn's head sable, the horn twisted of the first and second. Motto: Non ad perniciem. The following is the pedigree: (I) Baldwin de Carleton, of Carleton, near Penrith. (II) Jeffrey de Carleton. (V) Gilbert de Carleton, married Fitzwilliam. (VI) William de Carleton, justice's councillor of King Edward's son and lieutenant, while the father (Edward I) was absent in foreign wars; served on a commission to reconcile the king and barons; was chancellor of the exchequer; intercessor with the king for the Earl of Norfolk and Hertford; married Helena, daughter of Geoffrey de Stanton. (VII) Adam de Carleton, married Sarah, daughter of Adam de Newton. (VIII) Adam de Carleton, married Sinella supposed to be a Plantagenet. (IX) John de Carleton, was conspicuous. as commissioner with the chief men of England in making treaty with Flanders. (X) Henry de Carleton, county Lincoln, 13th year Richard II; married Alicia (XI) Sir Thomas de Carleton. (XII) Sir Walter de Carleton, married Fieldman. (XIII) Thomas Carleton, of Sutton, Lincolnshire; married Skerne. (XIV) John Carleton, of Sutton and Walton-upon-Thames; died 1450; married Anne Skepwith. (XV) John Carleton, married Alice Danield. (XVI) John Carleton, lived in 1500; married Joyce, daughter of John Walbeck and wife Margaret Culpepper, cousin of Queen Catherine, wife of Henry VIII. (XVII) Edward Carleton, fifth son of John Carleton, settled in East Clanden, Surrey, 1571; is ancestor of the Carletons of London, Surrey, Arundel and America. (XVIII) Erasmus, son of Edward Carleton, was a citizen and mercer of St. Bartholomew, London; married Elizabeth (XIX) Edward, son of Erasmus Carleton, born in England, 1605, is the immigrant ancestor of the family in America. He settled on the plantation of Rev. Ezekiel Rogers, 1638-39, and became one of the founders of the town of Rowley, Massachusetts. Next to the minister, he was the largest owner of land there. He was given the title of "Mr.," reserved usually for ministers and people of high social or official station. He was admitted freeman May 18, 1642; was deputy to general court, 1644 to 1647; commissioner to hear small causes, 1648; returned to England 165051, and died there about 1661. He married Eleanor Denton (Garth originally, of old Roman ancestry). He left some estate in New England, part of which came to his son John. Christopher Babbage and Jeremiah and Nehemiah Jewett received letters of administration on behalf of the children of Hannah Carleton, his widow, November 29, 1678. Children: 1. John, born 1630, see forward. 2. Edward, October 28, 1639. 3. Mary, June 2, 1642. 4. Elizabeth, March 26, 1644. (XX) John, son of Edward Carleton, was born in England, 1630; married Hannah, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Mallinson) Jewett, born in England, June 15, 1640. Joseph Jewett was son of Edward Jewett, of Bradford, West Riding of York, baptized December 31, 1609, married Mary Mallinson, October 1, 1634. John Carleton was a leading man in the town of Haverhill, where he died January 22, 1668. Children, born in Haverhill: 1. John, born 1658, married Hannah Osgood. 2. Joseph, March 21, 1662, see forward. 3. Edward, March 22, 1664. 4. Thomas, September 9, 1667, married Elizabeth (XXI) Joseph, son of John Carleton, was born in Rowley, March 21, 1662. He settled in Newbury, and married Abigail, daughter of Christopher Osgood, the immigrant from England. Children, born in Newbury: Joseph, David, Jonathan, Moses, Jeremiah, Mary and Abigail. (XXII) Jeremiah, son of Joseph Carleton, was born in Newburyport (Newbury), 1715. He married Eunice Taylor, born 1717. He resided at Newtown, New Hampshire, and Amesbury, Massachusetts, a town adjoining. He was a carpenter and millwright, and dealt in lumber. In 1750 he removed to Litchfield, New Hampshire, and in 1756 to Lyndeborough, settling on land now owned by E. C. Curtis, thirty rods northeast of the corner of land where the stone fire-dogs and old cellar may yet be seen. In the spring he returned to Litchfield, and in his absence the Indians killed his stock and burned his cabin. In 1760 he again went to Lyndeborough, hewed the timber, and built the house that is yet standing on the farm. In 1761 he built a saw mill and other buildings thirty rods below the bridge on the road from Johnson's Corner to Wilton, and sawed the boards for his house and others, doing a good business. He planted eight acres of corn the first season. He was greatly annoyed at first by bears. He died in 1769, his wife surviving him twenty-five years. He was a very religious man, and he and his wife used to walk to Amherst to attend. church, before the road was made, finding their way by the blazed trail. Children: I. Osgood, see forward. 2. Jeremiah, married Lois Hoyt; soldier in French and Indian war at sixteen; lieutenant at Bunker Hill; resided on homestead. 3. Mary, married Reuben Batchelder. 4. Abigail, married Adam Johnson, and (second) Ensign David Putnam, soldier in the revolution. 5. Timothy, killed by accident at raising of Wilton church. 6. David, killed at battle of Bunker Hill. 7. Ebenezer, soldier in the revolution; fought at Bunker Hill; settled in New Chester (now Hill) New Hampshire, and died there December 8, 1836. (XXIII) Osgood, son of Jeremiah Carleton, born 1740, enlisted May 2, 1758, in Captain Fay's company, Colonel Ebenezer Nichols's regiment, from Litchfield. He was in service in 1759, aged eighteen, stating his residence as Woburn, in regiment of Colonel Eleazer Tyng, in the invasion of Canada, under General Amherst. He was in Captain Joseph Newhall's company, Colonel Jacob Bayley's regiment, at Louisburg, January, 1760. While in the army in Nova Scotia his mathematical skill was recognized, and he was made part of the working force of navigators and artillerists of the king's army and navy, and served five years under Major-General John Henry Bastide, director and engineer of king's ordnance at Louisburg and Annapolis. He was surveyor in New Hampshire and Vermont |