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Bigelow Francis [Male] b. 24 MAR 1800 Berlin, Worcester Co, MA - d. 16 APR 1859 Orleans Co, NY
He early emigrated to NY state and settled in Washington county where he married on 20 May 1832 Angeline Morgan, born at Hampton, NY 10 August 1810. In 1840, they moved to Onondaga Hill, NY where they lived until 1854. They then moved to Genessee county and in March of 1859 they again moved - this time to Orleans county where he died 16 April 1859. Angeline married secondly Andrew King and resided in West Barre. After Andrew died, she lived at Medina, NY. She was one of a family of thirteen children and all but one lived to maturity.
He was a cooper by trade and bore an excellent reputation as a workman, and was a man "of sterling integrity and upright character". When living in Berlin, he served as one of the Selectmen.
Died in U.S. Army
he was in the service during the Civil War. Co.l, 36th MA Vols., enlisting 11 July 1862 and discharged 2l Nov 1863 for disability; reenlisted Co. E, 61st Regt. MA Vols., 23 Sept 1864; killed at Petersburg 03 April 1865.
At the age of nineteen, Levi began teaching in the town of Holden, MA and for the next thirty winters followed that occupation, usually in his home district. The remaining months of the year he devoted to farming. For some years he and his brother, Lambert, were partners in a country store in the west part of Marlborough. In addition to this, Levi was a surveyor and did much in making out deeds and settling estates, being a Justice of the Peace for thirty years. He was always active in education and served on the School Committee. He represented Marlborough in the General Court: 1831, 1832, 1834 and 1839. He was also Assessor for seventeen years. In all these positions, he was known for integrity. As a teacher he was a firm disciplinarian. He died 03 April 1859 a widower as his wife had died on 22 January 1850.
They moved to Boxborough, MA where he engaged in the mercantile business and quickly became a citizen in the town; was a Selectman for many years and represented the town in the General Court and served in many other town offices. He was also postmaster for a long time and died at Boxborough 13 March 1842. His widow survived him over forty years and died in Norwood, MA 26 January 1886 age 87
With his brother, Levi, he started a country store in the west part of Marlborough and continued the operation after his brother withdrew. This store was the foundation of Morse, Bigelow & Co. of that town. He was representative to the General Court in 1845, Town Clerk 1835 to 1853, Town Treasurer, 1835 to 1837 and again 1844 to 1850 and 1852. He died 21 March 1863 and his widow on 02 March 1869 both at Marlborough
He was well known as a marketman and teamster from Marlborough to Boston before the days of railroads. He died 31 August 1851. Mahala died 26 April 1883.
Leander was engaged in marketing for many years from Marlborough to Boston and afterwards moved to Worcester where he became the General Ticket Agent of the Worcester and Shrewsbury Railroad.
They lived some years in Berlin, MA where he was engaged in farming and was one of the Selectman. About 1856 he moved his family to Marlborough where he became a prominent man and was for many years a Selectman, Assessor and on the School committee. Abbie died at Marlborough on 0l May 1873 and he there on 05 May 1879.
Levi Bigelow, for many years an influential citizen of Marlboro, MA, where he was born March 12, 1821, and where he died May 5, 1879, was a son of Levi and Nancy (Ames) Bigelow, and a worthy representative of one of the old and substantial Middlesex County families.
He was of the eighth generation in descent from John Biglo (or Bigelow, the name being variously spelled), an early inhabitant of Watertown, a notice of whose marriage thus appears in the ancient records, it being the first recorded in that town: "1642-30-8, John Bigulah and Mary Warin joyned in marriag before Mr. Nowell."
Mary was the daughter of John and Margaret Warren, and is said to have been born in England. She bore her husband thirteen children. John Biglo was a soldier in the the service from November 25 to December 3, 1675; he was Surveyor of Highways, 1652-1660; he was Constable in 1663 and was one of the "seven men" (i.e. Selectmen) in 1665, 1670 and 1671. In 1690 he was made a freeman. His wife, Mary, died on October 19, 1691 and he married on October 2, 1694, Sarah Bemis, daughter of Joseph Bemis, of Watertown. He died July 14, 1703.
Samuel Bigelow, son of John, born in Watertown on Oct. 28, 1653, was married June 3, 1674 to Mary, daughter of
Thomas Flagg. She was born Nov. 4, 1658, and died Sept. 7, 1720. Samuel Bigelow was an innkeeper, and was one of the leading men in Watertown. In 1708-1710 he represented the town in the General Court. His will was proved on February 21, 1731.
Samuel Bigelow's son, John who was born at Watertown, May 9, 1675, died Sept. 8, 1769, married on June 12, 1696, Jerusha, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Gale) Garfield, of Watertown. She was born June 6, 1677 and died Jan. 16, 1750. This John Bigelow was the first of the family to settle in Marlboro, coming to that part of the town known as the "Farm." On the fifth day of September, 1705, he, with two other men, was at work in that part of Lancaster, MA now Boylston, when they were surprised by the Indians and made prisoners. They were taken to Canada, and were detained by the French governor. Mr. Bigelow and his companion, Sawyer, being good mechanics, they constructed for the governor a very satisfactory saw-mill on the River Chambly, and for this service, after some delays, were given their freedom and allowed to return in safety to their homes.
The next in this line was Gershom Bigelow, son of John and wife, Jerusha. He was born in Marlboro on November 13, 1714, and died January 3, 1812. His wife, Mary, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Howe, was born June 30, 1718, and died June 9, 1802. They lived on the old homestead and Gershom Bigelow was a highly respected and influential citizen. He was Selectman in 1763-1764 and was a member of Capt. Abraham Williams's company in 1757.
Gershom Bigelow's second son was Lieutenant Ivory Bigelow who was born in Marlboro on October 7, 1741, died Feb.
14, 1804. He married August 13, 1763, Sophia, daughter of Lieut. John Bannister and his wife, Martha (Hayward) Bannister. She was born February 7, 1747 and died Aug. 13, 1830. The Bannister estate, which on the death of his father-in-law passed into Lieutenant Ivory Bigelow's hands and has been in the Bigelow family to the present time (1898). Ivory Bigelow's title was received for meritorious service in the Revolution.
His son Gershom Bigelow 2nd, who was born in Marlboro March 22, 1768, and died in that place on October 27, 1847, was a farmer and a citizen held in high esteem. He was married first on Jan. 22, 1787 to Mary, daughter of Abraham and Lydia (Howe) Howe. She was born Feb. 22, 1769 and died April 20, 1820. His second marriage took place on April 26, 1822, the wife being Eunice Wilder who was born in Sterling, MA Jan. 13, 1790 and died June 17, 1873, in Ohio. Gershom Bigelow, 2nd, had a large family of children.
Levi Bigelow, Sr., his eldest son, known as Esquire Bigelow, was born October 28, 1790. At the age of nineteen he began teaching school, at first in the town of Holden, MA., and he followed that profession during the winter for about thirty years, being a greater part of the time in Marlboro. The remaining months of the year he devoted to farming. For a number of years he was in company with his brother Lambert Bigelow in conducting a general merchandise store in the western part of Marlboro, but eventually withdrew from the firm. In addition to his farming, he did a large amount of surveying, making out deeds, and settling estates. He was a Justice of the Peace for thirty years, known as Esquire Bigelow. Always interested in the subject of public education, he served for several years on the School Board, was also Overseer of the Poor, an Assessor for seventeen years and Representative to the legislature in 1831, 1832, 1834 and 1839. In all these positions he displayed absolute integrity, entire devotion to the public weal, and unflinching determination to accomplish his end when once assured that any proposed measure was for the general good. These same qualities of firmness and clearly distinguished honor had made him as a teacher command the respect and admiration of his pupils and secure the most perfect obedience. Many of his
former pupils, who are today leading business men, have been known to say that much of the success they have achieved in life has been due to the impulse received from him while teaching. The nobility of his character gave weight to his friendly words of counsel. His wife was Nancy, daughter of Moses and Lydia (Brigham) Ames. She was born March 1, 1792 and died quite suddenly, Jan. 22, 1850. He died July 23, 1849.
Levi Bigelow, the younger, the subject of this sketch, inherited many of the more prominent traits of character of his father, Esquire Bigelow. He taught school in Marlboro for a number of years, remaining on the home farm until his marriage. After that event he moved to Berlin, MA, where he carried on a farm and identifying himself with the interest of that town, served as
Selectman. About 1856 he returned to Marlboro. He at once took a leading place in public affairs there, serving as Selectman, Assessor and member of the School Committee. He did a large business in land surveying, also in conveyancing, being Justice of the Peace for many years.
In February 1846 Mr. Levi Bigelow Jr. was united in marriage with Abigail, daughter of Ephraim Hastings, of Berlin. Four children blessed this union. They were as follows: Martha Abigail Bigelow b. Nov. 18, 1846 and died Jan. 6, 1871, having been a very successful teacher; Hannah Elizabeth Bigelow b. Sept. 17, 1848; Frances Ann Bigelow, b. Sept. 30, 1850 and died Sept. 25, 1869; and a son who died in infancy. Mrs. Bigelow died May l, 1873.
Miss Hannah Bigelow was a woman of education and of philanthropic spirit, and contributed much to the welfare of her native town. She was graduated in 1876 from the Women's Medical College of Philadelphia and shortly after went to Europe where she spent three years studying in the hospitals and other medical institutions. She returned to America with the intention of practising her profession, but the death of her father a week after her return left her with a large estate to manage; and she found it necessary to devote a large amount of to looking after her financial interest. She was active in social and educational circles. She was a member of the D.A.R., and of the Marlboro Public Library Committee and of the Unitarian Parish. She was instrumental in organizing the Marlboro Hospital. All worthy charities and benevolences found in her a generous and in-
fluential friend, and she was a warm champion of every movement looking toward the improvement of the town or the welfare of its citizens.
Early Horace worked as a shoemaker and when still very young, invented heel pressing and nailing machines. His shoemaking endeavors were in Worcester, MA and he soon branched out into New York, New Jersey and Providence, Rhode Island. One of the most daring acts of his shoe manufacturing was the organization of prison labor at several State prisons. This was to meet the very heavy demand of the Army during the Civil War. In 1870, he withdrew from shoe manufacturing and plunged into other careers. This included railroading, real estate developing, the introduction of roller skating rinks to the public and always acting as a public benefactor. He was a financial backer of the first Bigelow Family Reunion, in 1886, and Howe's book on the Family. His many, many endeavors are too numerous to enter here. He died in 1911 Worcester, Worcester, MA.
was a graduate of Harvard in the class of 1846 and practiced law in Boston where he had a large practice. He had a foster son whom he educated. Edwin was a virtual recluse for many years prior to his death at the home of his foster son's mother. This was in Cambridge, MA on 22 April 1905.
he had been a Selectman and Assessor
He was in the shoe manufacturing/leather business in NY. He died on 29 August 1939 and she in May of 1941.
Julian was the Superintendent of the Worcester Excursion Car Company. Their deaths were not recorded by Howe.
He was the son of Ephraim and Achsah (Sawyer) Hastings and served as Captain in the 36th Regt. MA Vols. in the Civil War. He was a farmer and died on 08 September 1863 at Mound City, IL.
a teacher
Miss Hannah Bigelow was a woman of education and of philanthropic spirit, and contributed much to the welfare of her native town. She was graduated in 1876 from the Women's Medical College of Philadelphia and shortly after went to Europe where she spent three years studying in the hospitals and other medical institutions. She returned to America with the intention of practising her profession, but the death of her father a week after her return left her with a large estate to manage; and she found it necessary to devote a large amount of to looking after her financial interest. She was active in social and educational circles. She was a member of the D.A.R., and of the Marlboro Public Library Committee and of the Unitarian Parish. She was instrumental in organizing the Marlboro Hospital. All worthy charities and benevolences found in her a generous and in-
fluential friend, and she was a warm champion of every movement looking toward the improvement of the town or the welfare of its citizens.
At the outbreak of the war the North soon realized that it's capitol in Washington, D.C. was very vulnerable to attack from the forces of the South just across the Potomac River in Virginia. A 24 year old citizen-soldier, Colonel Elmer Ephraim Ellsworth, is credited with quickly organizing a regiment of New York City firemen to take on the defense of Washington. Ellsworth had studied law under President Lincloln and was highly regarded by him.
Soon after arriving in Washington, Colonel Ellsworth was given the mission of capturing Alexandria, Virginia. Upon entering Alexandria, Colonel Ellsworth saw the Confederate flag still flying over the Marshall House Hotel. With reckless bravery shown by many at the outset of the war, he ran to the rooftop and tore down the Confederate colors. Returning to the ground floor with the flag draped over his shoulder, he was gunned down by the furious owner of the hotel, James Jackson. Ellsworth's companion in this emotion charged attack was Corporal Francis E. Brownell. Brownell killed Jackson and then managed to escape with his own life. Colonel Ellsworth was the first Union officer killed in the war, and the story of his death had a profound effect on Horace and Adelaide Bigelow.
For a time Horace and his young family were living in Trenton, New Jersey where he oversaw the prison shoe manufacturing facility. While there, Adelaide and Horace's second child was born on November 11, 1862, a son whom they named Irving Ellsworth Bigelow in honor of the fallen Union hero, Colonel Elmer Ephraim Ellsworth.
For five generations the middle name Ellsworth has been passed down. The youngest to receive this distinguished name is Vance Ellsworth Bigelow, son of Derald Ellsworth Bigelow, son of Chester Ellsworth Bigelow, Jr., son of Chester Ellsworth Bigelow, Sr., son of Irving Ellsworth Bigelow, the son of Horace Holly Bigelow who started this legacy.
Francis was a Real Estate Agent in Worcester and this family resided at 21 Institute Rd, next door to Herbert J. Russell family. Edith died 17 February 1966, Clinton, MA nursing home. (Widow??). No death date on Francis, but he was estranged from Edith in the 1950's; but he died in Puerto Rico.
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