History of Swansea, Massachusetts, 1667-1917; - citizen hylbom blog

180 History of Swansea
Slade & Borden; later it became Slade & Borden. Mr. Slade gave his
attention to the general practice of his profession, the firm doing a large
business in "negligence" cases, and its standing, especially in the profession,
was one that could be gained only by high merit and the most
honorable practices.
Mr. Slade was active in matters not altogether associated with his
legal interests. He was vice president and a trustee of the Five Cents
Savings Bank. As a Republican he was prominent in the party organization
in his city and county, and was treasurer of both organizations;
and was also a member of the Repubhcan State Central Committee. In
1894, 1895, and 1896 he was a member of the State Legislature, and during
all three years was a member of the Judiciary Committee, during 1896
serving also on the Committee on Rules. In 1900, 1901, 1902, and 1903
he was a member of the Governor's Council, being with Governor Crane
during three yesirs of his governorship; and for one year with Governor
Bates. In college he was a member of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity; and
he was a member of the Quequechan Club, and of the Randall Club of the
Church of the Ascension, of which he was a member and a vestryman.
Mr. Slade married Annie Marvel Durfee, daughter of Walter C. and
Jane Alden Durfee. They had no children.
Mason Family
The Masons of that section of Massachusetts and Rhode Island
near the boundary line between these States are descended from Sampson
Mason, the Dorchester-Rehoboth settler. Mrs. Caroline Cole (Mason)
Gardner is a descendant in the seventh generation from Sampson Mason,
her line of descent being through Samuel, James, John, Samuel (2) and
Zephaniah S. Mason. These generations in detail and in order named
follow.
(I) Sampson Mason was at Dorchester, Mass., in 1649. In a
History of the Baptists in America it is stated (presumably founded on
family tradition) that he had been a soldier in Cromwell's army, and upon
the turn of events came to America and settled in Rehoboth. He married
Mary Butterworth, of Weymouth, Mass., and about this time, 1650-51,
bought land in Rehoboth, and also sold land there in 1655-56. As early as
1657 he and his wife and their three children were in Rehoboth, and in that
town is a record of others of their children, all born there, probably. Mr.
Mason was engaged in extensive land speculation. He was a land holder
in Rehoboth North Purchase, which later became Attleboro; and he was
also one of the proprietors of Swansea, in which town his descendants for
many years were prominent—and he was an original proprietor on the
incorporation of the town in 1668. It was about this time, perhaps, that
he united with the First Baptist Church, but very likely he never moved to
Swansea. He died in 1676, and at that time was the owner of several
hundred acres of land. His widow died in 1714. Their children were:
Noah, bom in 1651-52; Sampson, about 1654, (both in Dorchester);
Samuel, Feb. 12, 1656-57; John, 1657; Sarah, Feb. 15, 1658; Mary, Feb,
7, 1659-60; James, Oct. 30, 1661; Joseph, July 15 ,1667; Pelatiah, April 1.
1669; Benjamin, Oct. 20, 1670; and Thankful, Oct. 27, 1672, (all in Rehoboth).
(II) Samuel Mason, son of Sampson, bom Feb. 12, 1656-57, probably
in Rehoboth, married March 2, 1682, EKzabeth Miller of Rehoboth, Mass.,
bora in Oct. 1659. She died March 3, 1718, and he married (second) Nov.
4, 1718, Mrs. Lydia Tillinghast, probably widow of Rev. Pardon, of
Pl-ovidence, and daughter of Philip and Lydia (Masters) Tabor. She