PUFFER, Alvin Davis

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• Ref#: 151
• Name: Erving\Ervine D. Puffer
• Residence: Medford, MA
• _COLOR: 11

Notes:

A plumber
He was raised on a farm and attended the district schools, completing his education in the old Framingham academy, which he attended for two years. In his youth he spent much of his spare time in reading and study and early in life demonstrated natural ability as a mechanic and marked inventive genius. He followed the trade of blacksmith for a time and in 1842 started in the plumbing business on Water Street, Boston. Soon after he began to manufacture soda fountains. This business grew rapidly and he secured many valuable patents used in soda fountains, giving him a substantial lead over his competitors. After a few years he moved to new quarters on Portland Street, Boston. Year by year the demand for the fountains and devices manufactured by Mr. Puffer grew amazingly and his business became very large and profitable. A factory was built at Winchester but the offices remained at 44-8 Portland Street. He was granted more than a hundred patents. His three sons were associated with him in business in later years under the firm of A.D. Puffer & Sons Manufacturing Company. This firm continued until 1891, when it was consolidated with three other concerns in the same line of business under the name of the American Soda Fountain Company, of which Mr. Puffer became vice-president.
During the last 15 years of his life, Mr. Puffer devoted his attention mainly to his real estate and other investments. He was fond of travel and mad many trips abroad. He was well read, broad of mind, kindly, gentle and modest, equipped with a wide knowledge of men and affairs gathered from books and experience, a veritable (en)cyclopedia of information. During his business career he employed many thousands, all of whom held him in the highest esteem and affection. He had a fine physique, good health and great energy of mind and body. In politics he was a Republican, but he took no very active part in public affairs and declined public honors.
After living in Boston for a few years he made his home in Somerville for a period of fourteen years, removing thence to Medford. The section near his home is know as Puffer corner. During his last years his legal residence was at Derry, NH.
He died at Medford, after an illness of a few hours. The interment was in Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford. The funeral was at his late residence, 203 High Street. His will, dated March 15, 1897, was proved at Exeter, N H. His legal residence was in West Derry, NH where he had a summer home. In his will he bequeathed to his children, to his half-brother Jonas L. Whitney, the daughters of his half-sister Abigail Hewitt and his half-sister Hannah C. Felton.

The 1870 Malden, MA city directory lists him as living on High Street, Medford, MA on the corner of Purchase.

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GRID=78631399

Name:
This name appears clearly in only one record, the birth record of his daughter Carrie L. Puffer. It shows clearly that it's spelled "Erving D.". However no other records of this name appear. And since his daughter Carrie L. has the exact same date of birth as the daughter of Alvin Davis Puffer, I merged these two individuals and their respective wives.

Alvin married BALCOM, Sarah Mercer on 22 Aug 1847 in New York, NY. Sarah (daughter of BALCOM, Thaddeus and MELVIN, Mary) was born on 5 Apr 1825 in Sudbury, MA; died on 11 Feb 1861 in Somerville, MA; was buried in Medford, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. PUFFER, Alvin Davis Jr. was born on 14 Jul 1848 in Boston, MA; died on 26 Jan 1926 in MA; was buried in Medford, MA.
2. PUFFER, Frances Helen was born on 4 Jul 1850 in Boston, MA; died in 1924 in MA; was buried in Framingham, MA.
3. PUFFER, Daniel Jacob was born on 9 Dec 1852 in Medford, MA; died on 22 May 1911 in Medford, MA; was buried in Medford, MA.
4. PUFFER, Luther Winthrop was born on 23 Mar 1855 in Boston, MA; died on 5 Nov 1927 in Medford, MA; was buried in Medford, MA.
5. PUFFER, Louise Chase was born on 23 Jun 1857 in Somerville, MA; died on 21 Feb 1933 in Cannes, Departement des Alpes-Maritimes, France; was buried in Medford, MA.
6. PUFFER, Sara Mercer was born on 16 Sep 1859 in Somerville, MA; died on 11 Feb 1945 in Winter Park, FL; was buried in Medford, MA.

Alvin married COFFIN, Caroline Elizabeth on 19 Aug 1862 in Somerville, MA. Caroline (daughter of COFFIN, Moody and CHURCHILL, Sarah Adeline) was born on 17 Oct 1836 in Danville, NY; died on 26 Nov 1911 in Medford, MA; was buried in Medford, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. PUFFER, Ella Frances was born on 5 May 1852 in Boston, MA; died before 1952 in Geneva, Switzerland.
2. PUFFER, Caroline Elizabeth was born on 15 Sep 1865 in Somerville, MA; died on 19 Oct 1949 in Los Angeles County, CA; was buried in Glendale, CA.
3. PUFFER, Mary Adeline was born on 25 Sep 1867 in Somerville, MA; died on 28 Jan 1946 in Los Angeles County, CA.
4. PUFFER, Alice May was born on 2 May 1871 in Medford, MA; died on 5 Sep 1959 in Nassau County, NY; was buried in Uniondale, NY.
5. PUFFER, Edith Lovering was born on 16 Jul 1875 in Medford, MA; died on 3 May 1945 in Winter Park, FL; was buried in Medford, MA.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Ref#: 84
• _COLOR: 11

Notes:

He lived at Bolton for a time and finally at Stow. He and his brother Daniel helped to erect fortifications at Dorchester Heights in the War of 1812, but he was not enlisted. His wife's dower was set off Oct 17, 1826. Benjamin Brown was appointed guardian of his only (living) child Alvin Davis, Sept 5 1826.

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GRID=100006899

Jacob married LOVERING, Mary M. about 1814 in Sudbury, MA. Mary (daughter of LOVERING, Jonas and HOWE, Mary) was born on 5 Sep 1796 in Stow, MA; died on 14 Feb 1869 in Somerville, MA; was buried in Stow, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 11

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GRID=100010487

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• FindaGrave: Address:
  40360063
• Ref#: 35
• _COLOR: 11

Notes:

He joined the Sudbury church, Nov 1 1770. He resided in what is known as the old Maynard house. He was a soldier (Pvt-Ed.) in the Revolution in Capt. Asahel Wheeler's company in 1778. In his will he bequeathed to his children Ezra, Jacob, Achsah Gibson, Anne Balcom and Daniel.

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GRID=40360063

Daniel married BALCOM, Mary on 5 Jul 1770 in Sudbury, MA. Mary (daughter of BALCOM, Lt. John and HAYNES, Susannah) was born on 6 Mar 1748 in Sudbury, MA; died on 10 Sep 1802 in Sudbury, MA; was buried in Sudbury, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FindaGrave: Address:
  40360115
• _COLOR: 11

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GRID=40360115

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• _COLOR: 11
• Birth: 19 Feb 1775, Holliston, MA

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GRID=40357409

Jonas married HOWE, Mary on 10 Dec 1795 in Marlborough, MA. Mary was born in 1775; died before 28 Mar 1801. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 8

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• Ref#: 17
• _COLOR: 11
• Arrival: 1712, Sudbury, MA
• Confirmation: 12 Jul 1727, Sudbury, MA

Notes:

He went to Sudbury with his father, and became a substantial citizen. He served in the French and Indian Wars, as private in Capt. Josiah Brown's Co., in 1739 and as ensign in Capt. Josiah Richardson's Co., in 1757. Later he was captain of a Sudbury company. He was on a town committee to widen the causeway at Ironworks meadow in 1771. He lived in the house, built by his father, enlarged by himself, and still standing in 1900. He and his brother Ephraim of Sudbury deeded to Ephraim Keith of Bridgewater land at Petersham, July 21, 1738 (W.D. 10-526) and also land bought of Thomas Baldwin at Petersham (Nichewaug) March 5, 1743-4 (W.D. 2 9-355). He deeded land to his son Jacob at Templeton, April 13,1764 (W .D. 55-379).

His gravestone is in the burying ground at Sudbury Center. In his will dated April 8, 1785, he bequeaths to his wife Sarah: children James, Jacob, Daniel, Reuben, Rebecca Gibson and grandchildren Nahum and Reuben Rice.

Will of Capt. Jabez Puffer

"The following was one of the five wills made by Capt. Jabez Puffer and w as not the one offered for probate: "In the name of God Amen! This eighteenth Day of March Anno Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred and seventy Nine and in the third year of American Independence, I Jabez Puffer of Sudbury, in the county of Middlesex and state of the MA Bay, New England, Gentleman, being indisposed in Body, but of good and perfect mind and memory (thanks to Almighty God) and calling to remembrance the uncertain state of this transitory Life, and that all flesh must yield to death when it shall please God to call; do make and declare this my last will and Testament in manner and form following: -- Being penitent and sorry for all my sins, and most humbly imploring forgiveness for the same I commend my soul unto Almighty God my saviour and Redeemer in whom and by whose merits i trust and believe assuredly to be saved, to receive a full remission of all my sins, and inherit the Kingdom of God; and my body I commit to the Earth to be decently interred at the discretion of my Executor hereafter named: and for the settleing of my temporal estate, and such Goods, Chattels and Debts as shall be found at m y decease, all lawful demands on the same being satisfied, I appoint an d order to be done in the following manner: -- First-- I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Sarah Puffer, the income of all my Lande lying in Sudbury, she being at the charge of all the Labor for said income. Also I give her a good steady Horse and Chaise to use at her election; also the use of that part of the dwelling house and Sellar which I now possess, together with the free use of all other buildings on the Premises; also I bequeath unto her my loving wife two Cows, and all the Household furniture she brought with her, to dispose of as she shall think proper, the income of said Lands, and the use of Horse, Chiase, House, Sellar and other buildings to be hers so long as she remains my widow .
Also I give and bequeath to my four dutiful and well beloved sons (viz) James puffer, whom I have settled in Sudbury, Josiah Puffer whom I have settled in Westminster in the county of Worcester, Jacob Puffer whom I have settled in Ashby in the county of Middlesex and Daniel Puffer whom I have settled with myself in Sudbury, to them and each of them five shillings to be paid to them by my Executor in one year after my decease.
To each of them I have give good farms or settlements and my son Daniel Puffer is to have the refusal of my Homestead at the appraisal after my Decease if he pleases and agrees with his mother in law (stepmother), an d pays at, otherwise it shat be free for the purchase of any other person.
Also I give and bequeath to my dutiful and well beloved son Reuben Puffer having already given him an education at Harvard College twenty six Pounds thirteen shillings and four pence to be paid him by my Executor in one year after the beginning to settle my estate. Also I give to the s aid Reuben Puffer a Bed, with the furniture thereto."
(Charles Nutt has another will dated Feb. 21, 1774.)
Epitaph: "Here rests in hope of a resurrected life the mortal part of Capt. Jabez Puffer who departed this life June 21 A.D. 1789 in the 85th y ear of his age.
"My flesh shall slumber in the ground
Till the last trumpet's joyful sound
Then burst the chains without surprise
And in my Saviour's image rise."

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Jabez married TREADWAY, Hannah on 18 Oct 1738 in Framingham, MA. Hannah (daughter of TREADWAY, Benjamin and MAYNARD, Mary) was born on 19 Mar 1714; died on 28 Jul 1777 in Sudbury, MA; was buried in Sudbury, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 11

Notes:

For eighteen months, she was kept a captive by the Indians. She was taken when eighteen years old, and finally ransomed for L50.

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GRID=68619199

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• _COLOR: 11

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GRID=68617704

John married HAYNES, Susannah on 23 Aug 1737 in Sudbury, MA. Susannah (daughter of HAYNES, James and WOODWARD, Susannah) was born on 8 Jul 1717 in Sudbury, MA; died in 1762 in Sudbury, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 2

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• _COLOR: 11

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Joseph is the son of Samuel Lovering and Mary Hunt Leland and the husband of Kezia Carr whom he married on 24 Nov 1773 in Sudbury.They have but one child as shortly after their marriage Joseph entered the Revolutionary War. He died as a result of complications from an amputation. He was wounded in the Battle of Long Island Seige of NY. He was captured by the British and taken to Boston as a prisoner and while waiting for medical attention he was left with countless other soldiers on the piers of Boston exposed to the elements.

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GRID=126957805

Joseph married CARR, Keziah on 24 Nov 1773 in Sudbury, MA. Keziah was born on 3 Aug 1745 in Sudbury, MA; died on 12 Feb 1825 in Sudbury, MA; was buried in Sudbury, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 11

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GRID=126958027