BIOGRAPHIES - HISTORY and GENEALOGY of GOFFSTOWN - Hillsborough County

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
Information from History of Hillsborough County, NH by D. Hamilton Hurd; Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis & Co., 1885.

     The first ancestor of the subject of this sketch was Josiah Parker-1, who came from England prior to 1700 and settled in Cambridge, Mass. His son Thomas-2 was a clergyman, and was the first settled pastor of the church at Dracut, Mass., and died there in 1765.
     His son John-3 settled in Litchfield, N.H. His second son William-4, was born in 1775. He married Hannah Aiken, who died September 30, 1818. His second wife Hannah (Adams) McGaw, was born August 22, 1788, and died February 26, 1869. By the first union there were four children,--Rodney, George W., Caroline and Margaret Ann. By the second union there were also four children--Hannah A., born November 13, 1819; John McGaw-5, born September 17, 1822, David Adams, born October 5, 1824, and William H., born August 6, 1831, who died in infancy.
      William-4 was one of the early settlers of Goffstown, N.H., and became largely identified with the lumbering and mercantile trade and was also an extensive farmer and, for his time, one of the prominent and successful men of the town. He died August 9, 1839. His wife, Hannah Adams, was a superior woman, a descendant of that honored family whose representatives were called to the executive head of our nation, whose Christian influence over her family was most enobling and "whose children now call her blessed."
      The subject of this sketch at an early age attended the district school of his native town, where he received the rudimentary part of his education, and after some time spent in the academy at Hopkinton, N.H., he completed his education at old Derry Academy, and entered the store of his father as clerk. After several years of experience in mercantile life gained in his father's store, also in a store in Concord and in the store of William WHITTLE, in Goffstown, he, in 1843, started on his own account in the mercantile trade at the old stand of his father's where, in 1847, he associated with him his younger brother, David A., under the firm-name of J.M. & D.A. Parker, -- and for almost forty years they have pulled together, carrying along large agricultural as well as mercantile interests. They have also invested a large capital and engaged extensively in the wood and lumber business for many years, and by sound judgment and indomitable energy have accumulated a large property. The building of the Manchester and North Weare Railroad added greatly to their business facilities, and they became its largest partron. On the 30th of November, 1854, Mr. Parker married Letitia C., daughter of the late Captain Charles Stinson, of Dunbarton, N.H. Mrs. Parker was born March 9, 1835. The children of this union are three--Charles Stinson, born November 3, 1855; Henry Woodman, born February 26, 1859, and Frank Adams, born June 1, 1866. Charles was married, August 30, 1877, to Ella J. Hoit, who died February 8, 1878.
      Charles and Henry are associated in the mercantile business at Goffstown and are doing a large and profitable business. Mr. Parker is a Republican in politics, and has been elected to various offices, in each of which he has shown fidelity and good sense. He was a member of the State Senate in 1858-59. In 1855 he was elected commissioner for Hillsborough County, serving two terms, and in 1869 represented his town in the General Court. In 1876 and 1877 he was councilor from his district, being elected from a strong Democratic district, thus showing his popularity even among political opponents. At the institution of the State Board of Equalization, in 1879, he was commissioned by the court as one of the five members, was reappointed in 1881 and selected as president of the board. In 1879, at the organization of the Guaranty Savings-Bank of Manchester, he was elected president, which office he still holds. He is also one of the directors of the Merchants' National Bank of Manchester. Mr. Parker has been postmaster of his native town, has gained a wide celebrity as a successfull auctioneer, is often called to act as referee in the adjustment of disputed questions, and in all matters of a public nature he takes a most lively interest, and has won a most enviable reputation. New Hampshire is justly proud of such a son.

THE SHIRLEY FAMILY

     The first ancestor of the New Hampshire Shirleys of whom we have any record, was James Shirley, who was born, probably in the north of Ireland, in Ulster County, in 1649. This was the year that Cromwell send his famous Ironside Legion into Ireland, and avenged the terrible massacre of the Protestants in 1641. It is not improbable that the ancestor of James Shirley, if not James himself, came from Scotland to Ireland in one of those currents of emigration that set out from one country to another, as the waves of religious persecution swept hither and thither, as Catholic or Protestant was in the ascendant. It is even possible that James Shirley, as well as his ancestors, may have been a native of Scotland, and with his parents, have been among the exiles driven from Scotland, in 1660, under the cruel persecution of James Graham, of Claverhouse, who was the tool fo James, viceroy of Scotland and brother of James II. These immigrants from Scotland were Presbyterians. Fifty years before, in 1612, many of their ancestors had settled in Ulster, on lands confiscated upon the overthrow of the Earl of Tyrone, who had rebelled against James I. This immigration kept up until 1641, when the hatred of the natives had so increased that it culminated in an attempt to exterminate the entire Protestant population, and in the attempt forty thousand Protestants were slain. His massacre was avenged by Cromwell, who, for the first time, brought all Ireland to England's feet. For forty years more the Scotch and Irish lived side by side in the north of Ireland, always hating and always at feud with each other. The expulsion of James II from the throne of England, in 1688, was followed by the accession of William III, and a new religious war in Ireland, the Catholic Irish supporting James, and the Presbyterian Scotch rallying about the standard of William. It was during this turbulent period--1690-91--that the famous siege of Londonderry occurred. William triumphed, and the battles of the Boyne and Aughrim the cuase of James and the Catholics was overthrown. But the brave defenders of Londonderry fared but little better than their Catholic besiegers. The acts passed in the interest of the Church of England bore as heavily against the Scotch Presbyterians as against the Irish Catholics. Many emigrated, and among the number was the faithful band that settled Londonderry [NH]. They sailed in five vessels, and landed in Boston, August 4, 1718. That winter they passed in Casco Bay, suffering terribly. The next year they heard of Nutfield, on the Merrimack [River], settled there and renamed it Londonderry. Thence they spread, and they and their children became the pioneer settlers of Derry, Chester, Windham, Bedford and Goffstown. James Shirley arrived in Chester in 1730, at the great age of seventy-six, bringing with him a full-grown family. He was a farmer, and is chronicles as living to the extraordinary age of one hundred and five years. It will be seen that the Shirleys sprang from a hardy, industrious, reliant and long-lived ancestry.

      With James-1 Shirley came three sons, -- John-2, James-2 and Deacon Thomas-2. Captain James-2 Shirley, who died in 1796, was a seventh son, and famous for curing king's evil (or scrofula) by the stroke of the hand. Thomas-2 was born in Ireland in 1728, and died in Goffstown in 1808, aged eighty years. His son, James-3, was born in Chester in 1759, and died in Goffstown, March 31, 1855, aged ninety-six years. He married Mary Moore, daughter of Colonel Daniel Moore, an officer in the Revolutionary War. For his second wife he married Mrs. Abigail McCutchins, the mother of Moses and General Luther McCutchins, Mrs. John Swallow and Mrs. Robert M. Shirley. Their children were Nancy-4, Jane-4, Thomas-4, Daniel M-4, John-4, Gilman-4, William-4 and Robert M-4.
     Nancy-4 Shirley, born 1784; died December 12, 1818; married Joshua Vose, of Bedford; children,--Joshua, Daniel, James and Nancy.
     Jane-4, born 1785; died December 9, 1865; married William McKinney, of Newberg, Ind.; children,--Margaret, born 1806; Mary, born 1808; John, born 1810; James, born 1810; William, born 1814; Thomas, born 1817; Joshua, born 1819; Nancy, born 1822; Harriet, born 1825; Martha, born 1828; Cornelia, born 1830; Cordelia, born 1830.
     Thomas-4 Shirley born 1789; died May 13, 1834. He was a teacher, and died at Satassia, Miss., aged forty-five years. He never married.
     Daniel M-4 Shirley, born 1791; died August 23, 1855; married Jane Moore, daughter of Robert Moore, of Bristol. He was a farmer and lived on a part of the original homestead farm on Shirley Hill, the house on which, still standing, was the second two-story frame house built in town. Their children were: Robert M., born November 24, 1819; died April, 1883; married Margaret Dodge of Goffstown.Nancy, born December 26, 1823; married Gilman Shirley; children,--Alma, born 1849; Frank, born March 29, 1854; Clinton, born October 6, 1857.
Mary, born May 10, 1826; died December 1, 1869; married Ephraim Heald; children,--George, born 1849; Hattie, born July 8, 1852.
     Joseph, born April 22, 1831; married Nellie Niles, of Bombay, N.Y.; children,--Ardello, born 1859, died 1865; Delbert, born 1861; Jennie, born 1869; Delmay, born 1871; Hattie, born 1875.
     Harriet, born April 2, 1835; married Sylvanus D. Johnson; children,--Cora Belle, born February 10, 1859, died July 12, 1859; Horace Shirley, born October 22, 1867, died October 12, 1869; Shirley Moore, born January 8, 1869; Helen Inette, born February 2, 1871.
     Daniel, born September 26, 1838; married De Ette Sackett, of Potsdam, N.Y.; children,--James, born February 23, 1876; Emma De Ette, born July 4, 1879.
     Horace, born March 19, 1841; enlisted in Company G, Sixteenth New Hampshire Volunteers; drowned in Vermillion Bayou, La., April 17, 1863, at the age of twenty-two. He was one of the thousands of noble and patriotic youths who gave their lives to their country in the war which saved the Union and freed the slave.

      James-4 Shirley, born May 5, 1794; died August 8, 1863. He graduated at Dartmouth College, read law at Albany, N.Y., but soon left for Augusta, Ga., resuming studies and having charge of an academy there. He began practice at Florence, Ala., and pursued it at Huntsville, Ala, but finally settled at Vicksburg. His character was unblemished, his benevolence exalted and his loyalty to the Union uncompromising. It was at his plantation that the interview occurred between Generals Grant and Pemberton, which led to the surrender of Vicksburg. He married, first, Harriet, daughter of James Walsworth, of Norwich, Conn., in 1820. In 1835 he married Adeline, daughter of Abraham Quincy, of Boston, Mass. James Jay, oldest son of James and Harriet Shirley, was born in 1825, died 1852. His widow Harriet, and daughter Emma (Mrs. Andrew Criddle), reside in Clinton, Mass. Children by second marriage,--Frederick, born 1836, died 1873 unmarried. Quincy, born 1848, graduated at West Point, died 1879, he married Margaret Parks. Alice, born in 1844, married General John Eaton, United States commissioner of education, their children are,--James Shirley, born 1868; Elsie, born February 6, 1871; John Quincy, born 1873.
     John-4 Shirley, born 1797; married Margaret Houston; lives at Suspension Bridge, N.Y. Children,--Alfred, born 1819; married Jane Woodbury. Maria, born 1827; married Andrew Kimball; their children,--Lauron H., born 1850; Emma J., born 1852, died 1876; Ella F., born 1854, died 1877; Clara M., born 1857, died 1881; George A., born 1859; John S., born 1855, died 1861; Gilman, born September 20, 1823, married Nancy Shirley; member of Company G, One Hundred and Twelfth New York Volunteers, killed in battle of Cold Harbor, Va, June 2, 1864. John Shirley died May 10, 1855; married susan Parker, of Hooksett; children,--Josephine, born 1849; Charles, born 1850; Quincy, born 1858; Susey, born 1862; Mary Jane, born 1823, married Griggs Holbrook, member of One Hundred and Seventieth New York Volunteers, died in Andersonville prison; married, second, Joseph H. Stevens, died 1880; children,--Margaret Abbie, born 1866; Alice Maria, born 1868; John Hadley, born 1870; Fred Hodgman, born 1873; married, third, Andrew Kimball. Sarah, born 1836; married Matthew Dolphin; died 1869; children,--George Alfred, born 1867; Carrie Shirley, born 1869. Margaret, born 1840; married James Cooper, 1863; children,--Thomas Shirley, born 1865; John Maxwell, born 1867; Ella Margaret, 1869; Robert James, 1871; Mary Emma, 1874.
     Gilman-4 Shirley, born 1799; died at Gilmanton Academy, Franklin County, Ala, August 18, 1822, aged twenty-three; unmarried.
     William-4 Shirley, born 1802; died at Courtland, Franklin County, Ala, August 25, 1824, aged twenty-two.
     Robert M-4 Shirley, born January 5, 1808; married Sophia McCutchins, born April 15, 1805, died December 6, 1870; married, second, Lucretia Houston, born July 20, 1820. For fifty years Mr. Shirley was one of the prominent farmers and business men of the county. He is now retired from active business, and in his retirement, as in his active life, is distinguished for his kindness, integrity and liberality. He was a seventh son, famous for curing king's evil. Children (by first wife),--James Quincy-5, born November 14, 1829; married Elmira McPherson, of Bedford; educated at New London; went to California in 1850, at the age of twenty; engaged in mining and stock raising in California, Idaho, Utah and Oregon; a pioneer and successful operator in the latter business. At the early age of twenty-one he drove a large herd of cattle from Council Bluffs to San Francisco.
     Mary Helen-5, born May 23, 1839; married Frederick Eaton, dry-goods merchant of Toledo, Ohio; child, Helen, born Augut 5, 1866, died April 13, 1876.
     Abigail Frances-5, born November 21, 1844; married Colonel James B. David, of Amherst; resides in Somerville, Mass; child, James Quincy, born May 30, 1874.
     Edward Carlton Shirley-5, born December 5, 1834 in Goffstown, N.H.; married Amanda Malvina Baldwin (April 24, 1862), daughter of Deacon Nahum Baldwin, of Manchester; children,--Mary Vicksburg-6, born July 4, 1863, the day of the fall of Vicksburg; Robert      Lawrence-6, born May 12, 1868; Florence Sophia-6, born February 17, 1871.

      Colonel E.C. Shirley is one of the best known and most prosperous farmers in the State. He tills the homestead farm on Shirley Hill, which he has improved and brought to a high state of cultivation. His occupation is that of his immediate and remote ancestry in an unbroken line, and which has so strikingly conduced to longevity in this family. His home combines the attractiveness of rural life and the happiness of the domestic circle, united with a generous hospitality and troops of friends. Colonel Shirley was educated in the district school until he was eighteen years of age, and was then sent to New Hampton, where he remained until the breaking up of that school. He then went with Professor Knight to New London, where he remained three years. After leaving school, Colonel Shirley went to California in 1856, where he remained two years, engaged in various employments. Returning to New Hampshire, he was engaged in lumbering operations until 1862, when his father moved to Manchester, leaving the homestead to his care and possesssion. Colonel Shirley has always taken an active interest in military and agricultural affairs. He has held a commission as second lieutenant in the Amoskeag Veterans, aid-de-camp to Governor P.C. Cheney, with the rank of colonel, and on "New Hampshire Day," at the Centennial at Philadelphia, was officer of the day. He was also assistant quartermaster on the staf of Brigadier-General Clough, New Hampshire National Guard. He is a member and trustee of the New Hampshire Agricultural Society, and chief marshal at four exhibitions. He is also one of the founders of the Piscataquog Valley Agricultural Association.

CAPTAIN CHARLES STINSON

     The subject of this sketch was born April 18, 1800, in Dunbarton, N.H. He was grandson of William-2 Stinson, one of the early settlers of this town under the Masonian grant of 1751; was born of Scottish parents in Ireland, March 15, 1725. From that country, while young, he emigrated with his father to Londonderry, N.H. In the year 1751-52 he commenced a settlement in Starkstown (afterward Dunbarton), where for a time he lived alone in a log cabin, in which, one one occasion, he received as a visitor the Rev. David McGregore. "Not having a table," says the historian of Londonderry, "nor anything that would answer as a better substitute, he was obliged to make use of a basket, turned up." The Rev. Mr. McGregore, in asking a blessing, pertinently implored that his host might be "blessed in his basket and in his store." This blessing was literally fulfilled, as Mr. Stinson became one of the wealthy persons in the vicinity.

      He was prominent in the settlement of the township, and filled with credit many offices of trust and importance, and by industry and economy became one of the most substantial freeholders within twenty miles of his residence.

      William Stinson was married to Agnes Calwell, March 26, 1754, and died August 21, 1803. She was born June 17, 1734 and died July 23, 1818. By this union there were twelve children.

      William-2 Stinson, Jr., second son of William Stinson, Sr., born March 4, 1762, married Jane Cochran, of New Boston, N.H., who was born in 1776. He was an excellent farmer and intelligent man. He was often employed in town affairs, was liberal and hospitable, especially to the poor. In him they found a friend.

      His wife was a superior woman, who looked well to the ways of her household, and their home was one of the most agreeable visiting-places in town. From this union there were five children. William Stinson, Jr., died April 8, 1822. Jane C. Stinson died April 28, 1820.
Captain Charles-3 Stinson was the oldest son of William Stinson, Jr. At an early age he displayed a love for farming and made progress in the district school. At Bradford Academy, Massachusetts, he ultimately acquired what education it was his privilege to obtain. When eighteen years of age he was appointed commander of Dow's Troop. He was an active officer during the celebrated Goffstown muster, where he obtained the title that followed him through life. He was well known in this section of the State for his good judgment and his sound integrity.

      As a farmer he was active, and naturally of a strong constitution, he was able to carry on a great amount of work, and as a reward for his industry, he added to his original inheritance a good property.

      As a resident of Dunbarton, N.H., he was active and prominent in its affairs. He was country commissioner, selectman, treasurer and twice elected to the Legislature. In 1867 he sold the remainder of his days in quietness and attending to his business affairs.

      Captain Charles Stinson married Susan, daughter of Robert and Prudence Cochran, of Sharon, Vt., May 15, 1831. Susan was born October 27, 1803, and died March 23, 1838. He married, second, Mary Ann, daughter of Moses and Sally Poore, of Goffstown, N.H., May 29, 1839, born August 28, 1811.

      Captain Charles Stinson died August 8, 1878. There were three children by the first union, and one by the second.

Children:
1) Jane Stinson, born October 5, 1833, married Wallace Caldwell of Byfield, Mass., July 15, 1858
2) Letitia C. Stinson, born March 9, 1835, married John M. Parker, of Goffstown, November 30, 1854
3) Susan C. Stinson, born October 22, 1837, married George Byron Moore, November 29, 1860. Mr. Moore died of pneumonia April 11, 1872. On May 17, 1877, she married Judge Edwin S. Jones, of Minneapolis, Minn., where she now resides.
4) Mary A. Stinson, born August 1, 1841, married Charles A. Pillsbury, September 13, 1866, of Minneapolis, Minn., where she now resides.