MERRIAM, Martha Jane

Martha married MILLER, George W. on 16 Oct 1843 in Gardner, MA. George (son of MILLER, Ezra and PECK, Lucretia Josephine) was born on 4 Aug 1842 in Marlow, NH; died on 5 Jun 1878 in Boston, MA; was buried in Walpole, NH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 11

Samuel married PUFFER, Elmira on 23 Dec 1831. Elmira (daughter of PUFFER, Samuel Read and WOOD, Mary) was born on 10 Sep 1807 in Westminster, MA; died on 2 Nov 1902 in Boston, MA; was buried in Westminster, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• Ref#: 140
• Name: Almira Puffer
• _COLOR: 11

Notes:

After the death of her 2nd husband she made her home in Boston, living with her daughter Mary Wood Merriam Whitney.

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GRID=122734644

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• _COLOR: 11

Samuel married FESSENDEN, Elizabeth. Elizabeth (daughter of FESSENDEN, Timothy and PIERCE, Elizabeth) was born on 4 Jun 1764 in Westminster, MA; died on 11 May 1842 in MA; was buried in Westminster, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 11

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GRID=169124262

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• Ref#: 76
• _COLOR: 11

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By act of legislature, in 1827, he dropped his middle name. He succeeded to the homestead in South Westminster and was a quiet, industrious and upright citizen. He enlisted for the War of 1812 and he and his wife used their pewter spoons to cast bullets at the time of the alarm. His estate was administered by his son Josiah.

He and his wife Polly are listed in the "Historical Discourse delivered on the 125th anniversary of the Congregational Church in Westminster, Mass."

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GRID=88473032

Samuel married WOOD, Mary on 6 Nov 1801 in Westminster, MA. Mary (daughter of WOOD, Nathan and COWEE, Mehitable) was born on 15 Sep 1782 in Westminster, MA; died on 27 Mar 1843 in Westminster, MA; was buried in Westminster, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 11

Notes:

It is said that she was the best educated woman in town in her day.

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GRID=88472929

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• _COLOR: 2

Timothy married PIERCE, Elizabeth on 15 Nov 1753 in Waltham, MA. Elizabeth was born on 31 May 1735 in Lexington, MA; died on 18 Jan 1808 in MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 2

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• Ref#: 33
• _COLOR: 11
• Residence: 1790, Canajoharie, NY
• Residence: 1799, Canajoharie, NY

Notes:

He settled in Westminster about the time of the incorporation, 1759, on Lot No 62, in the south part of the town, on the farm lately owned by Cephas W. Bush. In early youth he lost a thumb by the explosion of a gun in his hands and was disqualified for military service. When he enlisted, it is said that he passed the examination by wearing gloves of which the thumb of one was filled with wood. He was in the French War, as the following letter to his father at Sudbury shows:

"Halfway Brook, July ye 23, 1758.
Honored father and mother

I hope these few lines may find you and all my Brothers and Sisters well and in good health as I am at this time after my Duty to you my father and mother and Love to my Brothers and sisters and friends and neighbors I will inform you that we have been met with a vary poor Stroke in the loss of Captain Daken and Leftene Curtis and thre privets, william grout J onathan Patson Nathanial Molton all of Sudbury and in the fight we lost three Captens and two Leftenants and one Ensine and two Sargnts and one Corporal and thirteen privets all out of our Regiment * * * and I will inform you that I Received your Letter this Day Dated June ye 29, and I Desier you would Send me a Letter as Sun as you Can I also Desier prayers for me and I hope that I shall Return to you in Due time--Know more at present So I shall Remain Your Dutifull Son
JOSIAH PUFFER."

He was a sergeant in Capt. Dakin's Co,, Col. Nicols' regt. at Worcester (list Jan 4 1759). He was in Captain Noah Mile's company, Colonel John Whitcomb's regiment Apr. 19, 1775, and took part in the Battle of Bunker Hill; also in Capt. Elisha Jackson's company to reinforce the northern army, 1777.

He was an active, influential citizen, of good judgment, able and upright. He was a Representative to the General Court in 1787, 1790, and 1791. He was the best educated man in town, except perhaps the minister. He retained his health to the day of his death. He mowed an acre of heavy grass the day before he died, and, indeed, died in the hayfield next day, while making his hay, pitchfork in hand, and was found dead by a neighbor. He deeded land to his son Samuel in 1805 (W.D. 163, 452). His will was dated Jan. 10, 1806. The 1790 census shows he was living in Westminster, head of a family of nine.

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GRID=84690600 

Josiah married READ, Mary on 29 Nov 1759 in Sudbury, MA. Mary (daughter of READ, Isaac L. and WILLIS, Experience) was born on 19 Mar 1741 in Sudbury, MA; died on 19 Jul 1831 in Westminster, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 11

Notes:

It is unproven if these are Mary's parents. The Puffer Genealogy book, by Nutt, says her parents are Jacob and Experience Read.

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GRID=84690770 

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• _COLOR: 11

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GRID=147341856

Nathan married COWEE, Mehitable in Mar 1781 in Westminster, MA. Mehitable was born on 2 Mar 1751; died on 4 Jul 1789 in Westminster, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 2